Suddenly I'm in Hell

Well, this is a predicament.

I was travelling from another dimension when I was suddenly knocked out. I have no idea how long I was out for, but when I woke up, I was in a completely different world I didn't recognize. The air feels much thicker here, but I can breath it just fine. The carpet I was lying on top of is red, I don't recognize the material, but it feels very expensive, I probably shouldn't be lying down on top of it. I tried to sit up so I can get a better look at my surroundings, but my body feels so much heavier. Are these... Chains? The chains that tied my arms back made it difficult for me to sit up. When I finally managed to prop myself up onto my knees, a voice echoed,

"I see you're finally awake, human."

I look up to see a set of stairs lead up to a large, black throne, decorated in the finest gold, and cushioned with red velvet. The girl who sat in the throne looked too young to be sitting there, but her attitude and expression suggested someone with far more experience in life. Judging from her expensive looking clothes and commanding presence, I'm sure I'm sitting in front of a powerful noble. Looking at her darkened eyes brings me a feeling of dread, but also excitement. Here I am, in another new world to explore! I'm going to need to get out of this alive first though... 

So many questions were running through my head. Why was I chained up? Who is she? What was she? I decided to ask the most important question first,

"Um, where am I?" 

"You're in the Castle Deleo throne room," she responded, "if you're wondering about what dimension you're in, you're in Hell."

Did, did I hear that right? If I really am in Hell, then she must be some kind of demon queen, judging from the robes and golden horns that protruded from her head. But then...

"D-did I do something wrong?" I asked, thinking back to all my previous adventures and actions, exactly like when a teacher calls you and you think back to everything that you might have done wrong. I can't really think of anything that would take me to Hell though, was it something I did while I was knocked out?

"I don't sense any negative energies from you, I'm sure this is all just a mistake, I wouldn't worry," she answered matter-a-factly. It sounds like this hasn't been the first time, she sounds so calm about the whole thing, until the way she hissed "mistake" in the end made me nervous. "Name," she demanded as she pointed a black, clawed finger at me. 

"Travis Lore," I responded without hesitation. I shut my mouth as soon as those words left me. I hate answering with my real name, I usually just answer with the "Toyhouse Traveler," but something made me tell her. Could it have been magic?

"Sloth, do we have anything in the records for 'Travis Lore?'" Her eyes shifted to a different person, finally taking her eyes off of me. I can feel my body relax once she wasn't looking at me, and only now noticed that she and I weren't the only ones in the room. I was half expecting a sloth when I turned my head to see who she was talking to. Instead, I see what appears to be a cat person wearing an oversized blue coat with a hood, a giant pocket watch, and a grey tail split into two. He was also wearing a skull mask under the hood. If I look close enough, his eyes glowed gold under the mask, and looked about as tired as the girl on the throne. I didn't notice at first, but he was just barely levitating, enough that his feet don't touch the floor. I look around to the other people in the room. 7 people in total, were lined up on either side of me, almost at attention. One has completely white skin with golden tattoos on her face and arms, and a golden wheel that floated behind her. Another had wings and feet that reminded me of a falcon, with piercing green eyes. There was a woman with a massive snake's body that radiated heat. There was a large dragon like man wearing gold chains, a young round boy with tiger like arms, and a person with long, flowing white hair in a braid. At the foot of the stairs leading to the throne, was a boy that looked about the same age as the girl on the throne, wearing heavy silver armour, and a large sword by his side. I feel like I should have noticed them all sooner if it wasn't for the noble girl's presence. Every part of me wants to focus on her, even if I just wanted to look around for a little bit. It's fascinating to me. 

"No name," the cat man answered. It was an incredibly blunt and vague answer,  but it was enough for everyone in the room to understand, other than myself. I think the noble girl saw my confused look and translated,

"You're not dead, nor are you supposed to be down here." I let out a sigh of relief. It's good to know I'm not supposed to be in Hell. "Now, what to do with you..." she eyes me intently. I gulp. Maybe I'm not quite safe yet.

"You can at least unchain him first." I look to my left, to the tall woman with pure white skin, and eastern fashioned robes. "He is just a human, there is no need for chains."

"A human that can survive Hell's atmosphere without a trinket," she SAID as she snapped her fingers, and my chains came loose. I stretch out my arms and stand up. Dang, even when I stand up some of these people are tall. "And while his energy isn't negative, his soul is different than most humans, tell us, Travis, how did you get here?"

"I don't know exactly," I try and remember what I can about how I got here, "I was playing with some animals for a short while, then had to leave. I blacked out during the night, and I don't know how long I was out for, but when I woke up well... I'm here. I think I might have dimension travelled while I was out."

"You can travel different dimensions?" The noble girl's eyes widened in interest.

"Uh, yeah, I've been to a lot of different places so far," I said. She started thinking deeply, with her claws rhythmically tapping the arm of the throne. I wonder if the other people here are as uneasy as I was. When I look at their faces, they seem so calm. 

"Lust, Pride, you two will keep an eye on our guest," she ordered, gesturing to the person with long white hair, and the one who said to unchain me, "make him feel welcomed, but do not allow him to leave the castle."

"Understood, your majesty," the one with the long white braid bowed gracefully, happy to serve. The other lady who was assigned to me, was not.

"Wait, why do I have to look after a prisoner? Let alone looking after one with him!" She exclaimed, jabbing a finger at the other.

"Guest, Pride," the queen reiterated, "you were the one who suggested unchaining him, so if he goes missing, you're the one responsible." "Besides," the queen added with a finger tap on her cheek, "I thought you always want to be the first to welcome a guest, an opportunity to... show off, was it?" The lady with the gold horns, who I'm guessing is named Pride, growled, as the bird woman next to her snickered. Pride and the queen glared at each other, until Pride straightened her posture and recomposed herself.

"It will be done," she said with strong disdain in her voice. A small smirk showed on the queen's face.

"Dismissed," she finished with a wave of her hand. Everyone bowed deeply when she did. I didn't want to look out of place or impolite so I hastily copied their movements. I hope I didn't mess it up, but no one seems to have noticed. The rest of the group stood up, and proceeded to leave the room through large double doors, but I didn't want to leave just yet..

"W-wait!" I yelled. All eyes locked onto me. I don't think I've ever felt more like prey than that moment. "I'd like to know your name, please?" I stuttered, looking at the queen. She took a pause before responding,

"You will refer to me as Queen Daia," she announced. I wonder how such a young looking girl can have such a frightening presence, but I'm still glad I got her name..

"Thank you!" I yelled back, then remembered, scary royalty, "I mean, thank you, Queen Daia." Should I have said "your majesty" instead? This is all so scary and confusing... I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turn around to see the person with the long white braid, I think Daia referred to him as Lust. Now that I see him up close, he has a very different attitude compared to the others. He's especially calm, but friendly, possibly too friendly? Either way, I can feel my nerves relax around him. He gestures towards the door. I follow, and see the doors close behind me as we all left the throne room. 

The hallway we are in now is huge, the biggest I've ever seen, built with black marble and a red carpet, just like the throne room. I guess the large hallways and doors were to compensate for some of the larger court members, who were all leaving in different directions, except for Pride and Lust, who stayed with me. I wanted to ask where everyone else was going, but was interrupted by Lust chiming in.

"So, anything you want to do, Mr. Travis?" He asked in a smooth tone, and a smirk across his face. 

"Um, I usually go by the Toyhouse Traveler, or just Traveler," I said. I'd rather not go through the rest of the day hearing "Travis" over and over again.

"Oooh, a title? Very well then, Traveler," he cooed, "if you have any questions or requests, we are here to help." He did a short bow. He's a dramatic fellow, isn't he?

"Stop clamouring for attention for once, Florence," Pride chided as she hit his arm. Wait, Florence?

"Ow! Look who's talking Miss "if people don't pay attention to me I will literally die," He mocked, rubbing his arm.

"I can say the exact same for you slut!" She shot back.

"Uh, who's Florence?" I desperately ask a question to try and defuse the situation. Do they usually fight like this? They acted so differently when in front of the Queen, is this normal? The two looked at me, Pride with a glare, but Lust noticed how awkward I looked just watching a fight. 

"Apologies, I don't think we've properly introduced ourselves," he said with a smile, "my name is Florence, and this lovely lady here is Akemi." He waved a hand to the lady with golden horns.

"I thought it was Lust and Pride?" I asked.

"Ah, those are our alternate titles that the queen prefers to call us by," he clarified, "Demon of Lust, and Demon of Pride."

"So you are demons," I murmured. That must mean "Sloth" wasn't his real name either.

"What else did you expect in Hell?" Akemi asked. She really lives up to her title with her tone and haughty attitude.

"I don't know, I've never been to Hell before," I said nervously as I shuffled my feet, "I'm not sure what to expect, it's all kinda scary." I wanted to say that they were very scary, but I don't know how well they would take that.

"Well, we are here to help and protect you whenever it is needed!" Florence assured, "you are our guest after all, we don't get them very often." "Isn't that right, Akemi?" he looked up at her with a gaze that can be read as "lighten up and make him more comfortable." She sighed.

"We protect Daia's guests no matter the cost," she said with smile, and her hands together under her long kimono sleeves. I look up at both of their faces, seemingly filled with the will to support, then looked around at the rest of the hallway. This might be a once in a lifetime opportunity to look around a castle, I should just take it, right?

"How much of the castle am I allowed to see?" I ask.

"Anywhere in the main rooms, we'll have to ask if we want to go into any of the private towers," Florence answered, "but that's more than enough to look at." "So what will it be? The garden? The kitchen? The ballroom?"

"You guys have a ballroom?" I interrupted midway through his list. Out of everything he said so far, that immediately caught my ear. What does a royal ballroom look like? 

"We do! It's taken care of by our lovely Akemi here," Florence makes an attempt to stroke her ego to calm her down more, "won't you please show us the way, darling?" He clasps his hands together with a pleading look.

"If I must," Akemi sighs, and begins to briskly walk down the hallway, "do keep up." Florence and I follow.

This might go better than I thought it would.