Chương 54: Ch 52. Go to Hell

John and Andressa spent basically the entire next day sleeping and resting and then the day after that they got up early and started getting things ready for their trip. Andressa's family lived in a hell that was primarily hot rather than cold so he stuck with linen, cotton, and moonweave. Andressa didn't pack much since she still had a closet full of clothes back home, but she did have a suitcase filled with little trinkets one couldn't find as easily in hell.

A bottle of northern winds, a stack of romances that ended well rather than painfully, and a stuffed animal for her niece that wasn't made of questionably obtained leather. Once they had their things packed they walked down to Hilda's Bakery where they found the titular Hilda and Mia working the front, a rare sight. As they waited in line John couldn't help but be amused at the contrast between them.

Hilda was a broad shouldered woman with strawberry blonde hair dressed in a practical dress and apron, and her daughter Mia was a skinny thing with hair of indeterminate color, though currently bright green, and was wearing a man's black suit over a red blouse along with a black veil over her face.

"What's so funny?" they asked John as he stepped to the counter, unable to wipe the smile off his face in time.

"Nothing's funny, I'm just smiling because I'm happy to see you," he responded smoothly.

"Sure," said the mother and daughter in unison disbelief.

"I'm surprised you're both working today," said Andressa as she leaned against the counter.

"Dad's sick with something, asked me to help out," said Mia.

"Sick with worry about his daughter apprenticing to a lech that is absconding with a demoness."

"I wouldn't call it absconding," replied Andressa with a smile.

"It's more like I'm kidnapping him." All of the ladies laughed, leaving John to simply sigh heavily in response.

"What can I get for you both?" asked Hilda.

"What's the special?" asked John.

"Croissants, as flaky as an elf on a schedule." He looked at Andressa who nodded at him.

"We'll do three." Hilda nodded and went back to pull some fresh from the oven.

"Mom's actually pretty happy I'm apprenticing with you, just so you know. She was worried I'd try to go to Bard College or something."

"You probably would've made an excellent bard too." She smiled at that.

"I've got the notes to review the next couple weeks, but I haven't had a chance to talk to Sarah about shadowing a few of the support group meetings. Are you sure it would be okay? I know it's only supposed to be for outworlders."

"It'll be okay, and if it's a little awkward then that'll be good experience as well. You're often going to have to try to help people who don't think you can relate or empathize with their experiences. You're going to have to learn to work through it." She nodded.

"I'll talk with Sarah. I'm going to meet with her after this anyway." Hilda returned with the bag of croissants and they slid some coins over the counter to her.

"I don't say this lightly to you two," said Hilda looking sideways at both of them, "But go to Hell!" Mia hid her face at the joke, embarrassed of her mother, but John and Andressa laughed and walked out of the bakery, heading back to the apartment to eat. Once they were done they shared a brief kiss and went their separate ways. John had to make sure things were all set with the support group and Andressa had a few things to pick up at her apartment which was in the opposite direction, at least that day.

John took the scenic route. He walked through a winding forest path that had appeared in an alley and was tended by a wise old elf. Then he cut through the little market, which was in fact enormous, but was manned by only kobolds, halflings, dwarves, gnomes, bugfolk, and a half-dozen sapient cats. He arrived at the support group building, and walked through the open door to find Ben, Sarah, and Ben's girlfriend Celeste all moving tables and chairs around.

"Hey everyone," he said as he walked inside.

"Sup bro! I was hoping to see you," said Ben, crossing the floor in just a few steps to dab him up.

"Wanted to tell you good luck in Hell, though from what I've seen you'll probably get plenty lucky there."

"Ha ha," responded John dryly as they separated.

"What's all this about?" he asked, gesturing to the moved tables and chairs. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

"I decided we'd have a… cultural appreciation day? I guess you'd call it," said Sarah as she placed a chair down.

"You know, invite some musicians that are from here in Avalon, some artists, and maybe have a few of our own outworlders put something on if they can. I already got Fabanaccio and a few others."

"That's a really great idea… I'm assuming you'll be doing at least five minutes on stage?" Sarah smiled.

"Closer to twenty, but since I'm organizing it that seems only fair."

"Oh, of course," replied John with a smile of his own.

"I guess you're going to have things well in hand." She nodded, getting serious for a moment.

"Of course. You just enjoy… well… Hell. If you can."

"I think I will actually. Andressa told me there's actually a lot to see."

"You packed some holy water and a cross just in case though?"

"Yep, though she was the one that recommended it. Luckily a few clerics and two gods owed me a favor or two so I should be fine. Living souls usually don't have trouble in her Hell, but better safe than sorry." John looked at the array of tables and chairs.

"Need some help before I go?"

"Sure, help me grab this table." John spent an hour helping to move everything into place then left after reminding Sarah about talking to Mia. Ben had made some mention of Rene wanting to say goodbye at some point, but John hadn't heard anything from the Frenchman himself. With that done John had one more stop to make before he could head to the Hellmouth to meet with Andressa.

He wove his way through the streets, dodging carriages, and a curious landwrym that had nearly inhaled him with a sniff, then made his way to the dwarven district where the infinite library had decided to manifest for the month. The dwarven district was all harsh angles and stone structures. It was the art deco to the elves' art nouveau district.

It was about ten degrees warmer on the dwarven streets, thanks to the enormous number of forges that dotted them, but luckily there was a smokeating enchantment that kept the air from getting too thick for a human like him to breathe or knocking all the birds, harpies, and fairies out of the sky above it. He saw the library half-buried in a pit, a number of people of all kinds filing in and out, as always.

He reached one wall with an arcane arrow pointing downward and placed his hand on it, causing the stone wall of the building to separate like a large mouth, teeth included. He then carefully placed his stack of mystery novels, and when the building sensed that it had what he owed, it carefully closed around them. John was tempted to take a step inside, but he resisted.

The library didn't like for people to take the books anywhere extradimensional and he'd rather not pay the fee for it with a treasured memory or elbow grease, or windshield fluid, or mismatched toddler shoes. He walked back through the streets, taking the short way back to his apartment since he was running low on time. He walked inside and made his way to the bedroom where he found that Andressa had already grabbed most of his bags for him, leaving only one small shoulderbag for him to carry.

He grabbed it and slipped it on before making his way to the door where he paused. He looked back into his apartment. His home of living wood and leaf. His couch where he spent hours reading every night. His kitchen where he had gotten custom heating and cooling enchantments to mimic the apartment kitchen he'd had before arriving in Avalon. His water droplet alarm that he'd adjusted this morning to drip out the window rather than onto the bed so he wouldn't be arriving back to a soaked bed.

He had been in that apartment for years, and since he'd moved in he hadn't spent more than a single night away from it. It had given him a safe, steady place from which he could build a new life in a new world. He breathed it in for a moment before kissing his hand and placing it gently on the wall by the door.

"I'll be back." He opened the door and stepped outside onto the stairway, making his way down the steps and onto the street for his fourth long walk of the day. He considered a carriage, but he really wanted to soak up a bit more of Avalon on the way. That and he was anxious. Not anxious enough to stop walking, but anxious enough to walk a bit slower on the way. He wasn't nervous about Hell, oddly enough, but he was nervous about leaving Avalon for so long. Nervous about how his patients would do.

Nervous about his group, his friends, Mia's studies and a dozen other things. He was sweating as he arrived at the Hellmouth, feeling as out of place on the brimstone streets of Little Hell as he did every time he was there. A bunch of imps, ifrits, and succubi were in line at the hellmouth, but he was able to find Andressa quickly as she was waiting to the side of the line with all of their luggage.

He felt his anxiety melt as he approached her and wrapped her in a hug and kiss which prompted a number of whoops and wolf-whistles from the line of demons nearby.

"You're late," said Andressa, though she was smiling as she said it.

"Sorry. I didn't have my secretary with me to make sure I was on time."

"Well at least that shouldn't be a problem anymore." He smiled and kissed her again before gathering his other bags for the trip. He went to get into the line, but Andressa simply walked to the head of it where the demons there silently parted for her. He was curious about that, but before he could say anything he heard an odd sound above him and hesitated. It wasn't a dragon's wingbeats, or a harpy's cry, or even a griffin's roar. It was an engine.

He looked up, searching for the source of the sound, and saw a biplane of all things, flying through the air. Behind it, was a long banner across which was written, "Have a nice trip John!" in big bold letters. Andressa appeared at his side.

"I guess Rene wanted to say goodbye."

"I guess so," replied John, taking it in for another moment as he watched the plane disappear behind some tall buildings. He and Andressa turned toward the hellmouth. It was a portal that seemed to be made of fire around which a number of impish bureaucrats stood and sent people through one group at a time. They were standing together in front of it when he took one more look at Andressa.

"Well. Let's go to Hell." She squeezed his hand and they stepped through. END