"Phew, that should do it." Vagatha said proudly as she put her hands on her hips to admire her work.
Although it was not their intention, the sudden appearance of the Slayer and Katie Killjoy caused the formerly peaceful and orderly setting of the hotel lobby to be turned into a circus. And while at first it seemed as though things would be under control, once the first few questions were spoken it became a free for all for answers. This led both Lucifer and his wife to insist that until they received answers first everyone needed to wait outside, of course though given how frenzied everyone was their voices were as loud as the squeaking of mice. This in turn would lead Vagatha, who admittedly was quick to her temper, to begin forcefully moving everyone towards the doors before opening them and kicking them out, and to be certain they would not come back in she barricaded them for peace of mind with nearby furniture.
Now with the lobby returned to a fairly peaceful state, the only thing left to do was to address the massive bombshell that stood in its center.
"Again, I would like to express our apologies for causing such a commotion." Vega said causing the Slayer to cross his arms "Correction, my apologies." He added, earning a nod in approval from him.
"If that were the case then SHE wouldn't be here." Lilith replied as she looked towards Katie, anger and disdain already present in her tone.
"I agree with my wife, why is that horrendous whore back in Hell?" Lucifer questioned supporting his spouse.
"To partake in the hotel's rehabilitation program." Vega stated causing their eyes to widen. "WHAT?!" Everyone shouted at once, causing Katie to wince slightly due to how loud it was.
"It is true, when presented with her options she chose to seek redemption, it is as simple as that." Vega told them.
"No way, there's no way in Hell, ANY Hell that she'd ever agree to this! I KNOW she wouldn't." Lilith insisted.
"Not unless she had some kind of motive, like a snake in the grass." Lucifer added.
"That's funny coming from the only person here who actually WAS a snake at one point." Katie countered.
Tightening his fists as that comment made his blood boil near instantly, before he could try and approach her he would be stopped by his daughter.
"Everyone please just calm down!" She exclaimed doing her best to take control of the situation, "I'm sure that this is as simple as it looks, she didn't want to spend the rest of her life wherever it is the Slayer sent her, so she instead chose to try and rehabilitate herself." She reasoned.
"Charlie, WHY are you defending her?! you of all people should want to see her head be twisted off and mounted on a spike! while the rest of her is slowly torn apart by rabid badgers!" Lucifer exclaimed.
"Gee, tell me how you really feel." Katie remarked causing his eye to twitch.
"Look, I know that she is...not the first person we'd think of to be a resident at the hotel, I know that you and mom especially hate her beyond belief, but the whole reason we're doing this is to show that no matter who you are or what you've done, you can comeback from it and be a better person." Charlie said.
"That is true, but not her." Lilith spoke walking up to stand beside her husband, "After everything she said and did to me, after the things she said about your father and you, and the fact that in general she has been nothing but a self serving spiteful bitch who can't think about anyone else less they can be used in some way, the fact is her soul is one that could never be redeemed, and I know this because I have seen so many like her before." She explained.
Silence then took hold of the air as Charlie didn't know how to respond, for while she did want to try and see the good in everyone, and did truly believe anyone even Katie could become a better person, she couldn't deny the fact her parents had seen every single soul to ever come to Hell, so they would know a truly evil soul if they saw it. In spite of this she found herself looking back towards the Slayer, and while there was still so much she didn't know about him there was one thing that was painfully clear, no one in Hell or otherwise hated demons as much as him. Yet for some reason even after having been the one to kill her, he chose to give her the option to come here instead of leaving her wherever it is she went. And while it could just be that he felt obligated to do so, for as her father had told her he was here by the request of a Seraphim, she still found it curious that he'd even bother to give one soul this choice when there were still so many left in Hell.
"Then why don't we ask him?" She proposed as she turned to face him, "The Slayer is the one who brought her back right? but why would he do that if he didn't think there was some chance she could be redeemed? I mean there's PLENTY of horrible, rotten, evil people living here, and he saw first hand how cruel she could be, but still he let her come back." She said.
"She does have a point." Vagatha agreed taking her side, "There's no one here who'd want to just kill a bunch of demons without remorse more than him, so why not just see what he has to say?" She asked.
"If I may." Vega interjected bringing all of the attention towards them, "The Slayer did debate if this was a good idea, even though he has agreed to help you try and save the souls of Hell's denizens, he would much prefer to default to his standard methods, however it is the fact that miss Killjoy and most of the residents of this Hell are humans that swayed him on the matter, they are not mindless monsters or fiends who do horrid things just because it's in their nature to do so, he has seen both humans and natural Hellspawn commit acts of pure evil, yet only in humans as he ever seen the possibility for acknowledgement and in turn the desire to repent, so he decided that she should at least be given this option, though ultimately as Lilith has stated she has shown no kindness to your family, and so it comes down to all of you whether or not she stays." He explained.
"So WE decide her fate then?" Lucifer questioned to be absolutely certain, a truly wicked grin coming to his features.
"Yes, the three of you must reach a unanimous decision, the Slayer will not return her to her imprisonment nor allow you to try to remove her from the premises until that happens." Vega clarified.
"Does Vaggie get a say in this? because she should." Charlie asked causing her girlfriend to smile. "If that is what you want, yes." Vega answered.
"Well in that case I side with Charlie." Vagatha immediately said before walking over and standing beside her, "Even though Katie is...pretty much the reigning queen bitch of Hell, I do agree that even someone like her should be given at least ONE chance, if she screws it up though then you can take her back." She explained.
"I assume your stances are against it?" Vega inquired addressing Lucifer and Lilith. "Yes." Both said together not needing to even consider it.
"Then it appears we are at a stalemate, how do you propose we address this?" He asked.
Once more silence came over the room, for neither pair had any idea of how they would convince the other to take their side on the matter, without getting angry or potentially even physical. But then to everyone's surprise the cause behind this disagreement stepped forward, approaching Charlie with the clear intent of saying something.
"Okay...so...listen..." Katie spoke in such a way she seemed timid and even scared, which caught all of them off guard, "I know I've been a bitch, there's no disputing that, do I regret saying what I did to your mom? or what I said about you and your father? of course not, I'd be lying if I told you straight to your face if in the blink of an eye I was just suddenly a different person because it doesn't work like that, you have no reason to trust me or believe me or even give two shits about me since I sure as shit didn't about any of you, but..." She trailed off for a moment as her face slowly adorned a look of genuine terror, all the while she looked to the floor "I have seen things...things that you'd see in your nightmares and even then it's worse, things that made me scream and cry like I never have before, they were horrible fucking monsters who relished in my suffering, but it wasn't the kind of satisfaction that you'd expect like whenever I did something to Tom during our broadcasts, it was this...primal almost animal like gratification, to where it felt that was the ONLY reason they existed, to just do that to you over and over again, I have no idea what the fuck they were nor where they came from, but if you don't give me this chance to be a better person...to try and save myself...then he's going to put me back there with them and I just...I can't deal with even the mere thought of that happening..." She told them before returning her gaze to Charlie, surprising them once again as there were actual tears in her eyes, "So please...I know I don't deserve it...but don't send me back there...I...I can't go back..." She pleaded in almost a whimper, her body even beginning to involuntarily shake ever so slightly.
Left without words no one could believe what they were seeing, the once mighty commanding ruthless presence and composure of Katie Killjoy, was now on the verge of breaking down into a sob, even her knees threatened to buckle under the weight of whatever it was she feared. And while Charlie and Vagatha couldn't even begin to imagine what could have done this to her, both Lucifer and Lilith knew exactly what she had been a victim of. The denizens of Doom, though all deceased as it was by the Slayer's hand their flesh was torn asunder, would still be lingering somewhere in creation in the most basic form of any creature, the soul. But only now as they listened to Katie's words and saw the true state she was in, did it occur to them that to ensure those horrors would never be seen again, of course the Slayer would keep them sealed away in a place he could monitor them.
Yet they never would have expected him to take Katie's soul as well, let alone put her in the same space as them and allow them to do with her as they saw fit. This caused the king and queen of Hell to look at the former news anchor with a newfound sympathy, for all though they were still angered by her comments and her actions, NO ONE deserved to be left alone with those abominations, not even her.
"...Alright." Lucifer spoke gaining everyone's attention, "If she agrees to abide by every rule, and I
do mean EVERY. SINGLE. RULE. that the hotel has, along with any given by Charlie, then...I will relent and allow her to stay." He said.
"As will I." Lilith agreed before then looking towards Katie, "Even though you have insulted me and my family, and I still do want you to be punished for it, even I am not so cruel as to send you back to those things, as that is truly the worst fate any soul could ever fear to have." She explained.
"So it is settled then? miss Killjoy will be allowed residency here at the hotel?" Vega asked for confirmation, to which he received nods from both of them.
Before more could be said however, Katie would walk away from Charlie and over to them, stopping only once she was but a few inches away.
"Thank you..." She said in a low soft volume, a small smile of appreciation appearing on her face, "Really...thank you so much...for not sending me back to them..." She managed to get out, before her will finally gave and tears began pouring from her eyes.
Hiding her face in her hands as she didn't want to be seen in this state, she would jump slightly from surprise as she felt a hand be placed on her back.
"Miss Killjoy, would you like me to show you to a room? so you can have some privacy?" Charlie offered using it as a sort of official peace between them.
"Y-Yes, thank you..." She replied as they then walked away "Also...you can just call me Katie..." She told her causing Charlie to smile.
Waiting until they were out of sight further into the hotel, once they were gone the Slayer would then turn to the front doors and walk towards them.
"Where are you going?" Vagatha asked as he walked passed her.
"With miss Killjoy's situation settled for now, the Slayer has one other situation to remedy before we refocus back onto the Hotel and it's plans going forward." Vega answered.
"And that would be?" She followed up.
"Questioning the two imps who tried to assassinate miss Killjoy, it is very unlikely that they were operating on their own, someone had to have hired them and if that is the case, the Slayer would like to meet with them." He explained.
"I'll come with!" Lilith suddenly shouted causing the Slayer to stop.
"Oh? and why would you want to accompany the Slayer in this matter?" Vega questioned as the Slayer looked back at her over his shoulder.
"Yes dear, why is this a concern to you?" Lucifer asked genuinely confused as to why she'd volunteer for such a thing.
"Er, because, we can't have the Slayer at least not right now walking around Hell unsupervised, especially not after that whole spectacle that was on the news, the moment he steps out into Hell he'll be swarmed by our people or will just cause unintentional problems, so it would be best if I go with him to keep everything under control, as well as make sure he finds his way to the hospital where that one imp currently is, plus I don't know even after everything that just happened if I'll be able to control myself around Katie, so it makes sense for me to go with him while you stay here, sweetie." She explained though in such a way that she seemed panicked.
"Well, I suppose that does make sense, after all he did blast her to pieces with that shotgun of his, so either everyone's going to be scared shitless or they're going to want to speak to him, there might even be some morons who want to try and fight him..." Lucifer admitted much to his dismay, as he hated just how many idiots there were in his Hell specifically.
"Exactly, so I'll go with him and make sure that doesn't happen, but we better get a move on because Alastor said he'll be back later! and we don't want him lingering around here longer than he needs to." She replied as she hurried over to the doors.
"THAT I agree with completely." Vagatha chimed in as the radio demon made her skin crawl.
Watching in his standard silence as Lilith began removing objects from Vagatha's makeshift barricade, to which the grey skinned woman came over to help her with, Vega would speak to him discretely via the speakers inside his helmet.
"You're suspicious of her correct?" He asked earning a barely noticeable nod in response, "Would you like me to monitor her for you? so you can keep your focus on your surroundings?" He asked only to receive the same response.
After a minute or so the barricade was finally done away with allowing them to exit, the Slayer letting her take the lead so both he and Vega could keep a watch on her.
When one thinks of Heaven they typically imagine a blinding radiance unlike any other, a bright shining pure light that dispels any darkness and brings comfort to those in its warmth. But with there being just as many sections of Heaven as there are of Hell as a whole, this meant that like their darker counterparts each section was distinct from one another, usually if not always representing the race of Heavenly beings who populated it. This is why if one were to venture into the home of the Maykrs, they would not see a bright white light washing over every surface or person, nor would they find golden gates or people standing atop of moving clouds. Instead what they would see is something beyond mortal comprehension, a piece of reality that is comprised of not only beautiful and breathtaking celestial bodies and energies, but architectural wonders that went beyond what many mortals could even imagine in fiction.
Through an unprecedented union of science and magic the Heaven known as Urdak looked like a dream, beautiful yet practical everything within it's domain existed to serve some kind of purpose. And every denizen that thrived within it, from the common drones to the angels and of course the Khan herself, carried out their tasks and obligations without delay or fail. Yet this did not keep those who knew this place as home from having their own ideas, their own machinations that they sought to see realized, but none ever dared cross the line that would go against the laws and rules established by the creator of all, as well as their own leader which was the collective consciousness of all the preceding Khans.
For continuing in their separation from most other Heavenly bodies, the Maykrs believed and committed to the idea of repeated reincarnation. In simpler terms, when a Khan had served their time their sentience would then be added to the collective, which would then determine which among them was meant to be the next Khan, guided and advised by the souls of all that came before. Yet it had been some time since there was a new Khan, the current one had been in her position longer than any Khan before her, though only those of Urdak origin knew and were aware of this fact, including her closest ally and most trusted Maykr Samur.
"Is everything in order?" She asked him as they both looked down over their Heaven, specifically at all of the drones and angels who went about their business.
"Yes, as we have planned the redemption of Lucifer's Hell is underway, only so far have two demons been killed by the Slayer, yet surprisingly the latter has been allowed to return in the hope that she can be redeemed." He answered.
"Really? The Slayer allowed a demon culled by his sword to return? how unusual, what do you think it could mean?" She asked.
"I believe he showed her mercy as she was once human, though it could have just as easily been due to my request he restrain himself, if only slightly." He replied.
"I think it would be best if we kept an eye on this demon, see if he has actually managed to reach her, and who knows, she could prove useful in some way later." She suggested.
"I'll make sure that a drone monitors her then." He replied.
"Very good, are there any other matters that we need to discuss?" She asked.
"The archangel's investigation is proceeding as expected, no doubt there will be another meeting held soon, and there is a strong possibility he will request the presence of the Slayer." He answered.
"If that should happen then it can't be avoided, we're already keeping much from him and the others, we can't afford any more suspicion or prying eyes." She told him.
"Do you think this will work? will our plan proceed without issue?" He asked her.
"It's impossible to say, I have complete faith in our champion as I always have, but there's no telling what demons lurk in Lucifer's Hell, and what possible schemes they might come up with as time passes, but I doubt it would be to a degree that we could not handle, or he for that matter." She answered.
And with that their conversation came to it's end, Samur would take his leave of her company to do what was needed, leaving her to be alone with her thoughts.