The Takeover

"Alright, ladies. Listen up." Veronica announced as she entered the Demon's Lounge for the nightly meeting of the Gossip Gals. "I've got some big news."

"Don't tell me you and Nigel are getting back together" Barbara groaned. She caught a look from Veronica that made her cheeks flush and her body sink down in her chair.

"Don't be absurd, that's never going to happen." Veronica flipped her hair over her shoulder as she lowered herself into her usual throne. 

"Then, what is it? The suspense is killing us. Metaphorically, of course." Delores smirked at her own joke, waiting for the others to laugh. They didn't.

"Well, see for yourselves." Veronica stood from her chair, her body beginning to transform in front of their eyes. Her skin colour began to deepen, first to a terracotta orange, then a deep crimson. Two sharp horns erupted from her forehead. Her long eyelashes fluttered to reveal neon yellow irises. She smiled, giving them a glimpse of sharp pointed teeth. "What do you think?"

The Gals were in shock. Charlie's mouth hung open. Barbara took one look at the new Vee and her eyes rolled back in her head, losing consciousness, she tumbled out her her chair onto the floor. Delores dropped the tea cup she had been holding, the shards scattered around room. No one noticed, as they were far too focused on their leader and her new appearance.

"Holy Hell, Vee. What is all this?" Delores finally found some words in the midst of total shock.

"Well, ladies, I am The Boss now. And a new Boss need a new cabinet. Guess who I'm appointing?" She grinned excitedly around at the two who were still conscious, giving Barbara a brief nudge with her foot, in an attempt to rouse her.

"Y—you mean us?" Delores stuttered, still trying to wrap her mind around this major news.

"Yes, you! Dee, I want you to be my Right Hand. And Charlie, I'll need a Minister of Mischief and Mayhem. That's where you come in." Vee pointed at Charlie, who's mouth was still silently hanging open in shock.

"Me? Really?" Charlie pointed a finger at herself in disbelief. 

"Yes, you. There's no one else I trust for the job." Vee smiled warmly at Charlie, her pointed teeth glistening in the fluorescent lighting of the lounge.

"But, what about Barbara?" Delores asked, as Barbara started to regain consciousness and sat herself up on the floor. "Does she get a position too?"

"Of course, we can't forget about Big Barb!" Vee tapped her chin with her index finger, thinking about a possible position for the large bovine lady. "Hey, Barb, how would you like to be my Secretary of Sadism?" Vee knelt down to grab Barbara's hand. Barb looked up at Vee's new appearance and started to sway again. "Barb, Barb. Focus. stay with us." Vee snapped her fingers in front of Barb's big eyes, trying to keep her awake.

"I—I'm honored, but, I'm a bit confused. How did you become The Boss? What happened to Boss Hades?" She asked, scratching the side of her head that hit the floor.

"Hades is no more. He has fallen. I am the new Boss, and I appoint you three as my cabinet members." Vee barked, not wanting to speak more on the Hades situation.

"But—" Charlie started to speak, but stopped when she saw the look in Vee's piercing yellow eyes. She knew now was not the time to probe for answers.

"I need you all to report for duty first thing tomorrow morning. Forget your old jobs, we'll find other demons to take them over. You've got better assignments now. At dawn, we announce the change in leadership. This is going to be huge." Vee rubbed her hands together, growing excited for everyone to learn of her new status as The Boss. "And not a word to anyone before then, you got it?" Vee pointed her finger around the room at each of them, swearing them to secrecy for the evening.

"Um, your secret's safe with me, but is it safe with her?" Dee pointed toward the door, as they all turned to look. Kitty was standing in the doorway, a sweet smile across her little face. Vee looked over her shoulder, clocking the girl, and turned back to the group.

"Oh, yeah, in other news, This is Kitty. She belongs to me. I let her loose here, she's my minion." Vee smirked as once again, mouths fell agape.

"You... you brought a HUMAN CHILD INTO HELL???" Barb screeched, recoiling in fear as the girl stepped toward her.

"No, Barb, she's not human. She's a robot minion. Relax, would you? You're gonna give yourself an aneurysm." Veronica's eyes rolled, she was growing tired of Barb's silly phobia of humans. 

Kitty moved into the room, flanking Veronica on the right. She reached into her tiny dress pocket and withdrew the skeleton key, handing it over to The Boss. 

"Wait, is that... is that the key to the Abyss?" Delores stuttered. She hadn't seen that key in centuries, she thought it was lost long ago.

"Yeah, it is. Turns out, Nigel had it in his office. I found it in a desk drawer, that sneaky fucker. I gave it to Roger, to take care of the 'Abaddon problem.'" She used her fingers to air quote this last part, while the girls still looked on in shock.

"Wait, so what happened to Abaddon? Is he in the Abyss?" Charlie asked, looking a bit sad. She had a soft spot for the old guy, he was a bit rough around the edges, but he was very kind to her when she first arrived. 

"Yeah, he's in the Abyss now, right Kitty?" Veronica turned to the girl for confirmation.

"Kitty!" The girl happily shouted, nodding her head. She held up her hand, showing three little fingers.

"Where is Nigel? He's usually peering through the window by now, he must be off his game today." Delores seemed a bit concerned, as she looked out the empty doorway of the lounge.

"Kitty..." the girl whispered, as she pointed to the key in Veronica's hands.

"Wait, did Nigel end up in the Abyss as well?" Veronica asked, the girl began to nod vigorously.

"Well shit, that solves one more problem! Thanks, Kitty, you're the best!" Vee clapped the girl's shoulder with her large red hand. "But wait, if they both ended up in the Abyss, where's Roger? He was supposed to let me know when Abaddon was take care of."

"Kitty..." the girl pointed at the key once more.

"Wait, all three of them ended up in the void?" Vee asked with wide eyes. The girl nodded enthusiastically. "Holy Hell, she got all three of 'em. That's my girl!" Vee picked the girl up and set her on top of her knee. The girl giggled gleefully.

"Well, ladies, that concludes this evening's meeting. I'll see you all bright and early for inauguration." Remember, not a word to anyone before the big announcement."