Daily Disclaimer: Check out my DA for art and type EmeraldOverlord in the search box since I have art of my fic on there.
Back In The Other World...
Charlie woke up the next morning, yawning as she got herself out of bed.
The Princess of Hell rubbed her eyes irritable, her body feeling rather sluggish despite having rested for quite a long time.
Despite having been stripped of her powers for months, Charlie still wasn't used to her de-powered form. It required a lot of maintenance and having to actually sleep and eat was still something she was adjusting to.
Speaking of eating, Charlie could feel her stomach rumbling.
'Better go get something to eat…' She thought to herself,'But first…I should go get my clothes on…'
Charlie headed to the drawers, pulling out a set of simple clothing for a change and made her way over to the showers.
As the water sprinkled from above, The Princess of Hell was memorized in her thoughts that clouded her mind. This World was so beautiful, yet so dangerous at the exact same time. This world had many evils with oh-so familiar faces.
From minor nuisances like Verosika Mayday to terrifying entities like the Deadly Sins, Charlie had encountered many foes throughout her journey.
So many daunting threats, and she could tell there was more to come. Her journey was far from over and she feared the worst, especially with her ex boyfriend's threat lingering on her mind…
Despite all these centuries, the wounds of their breakup still cut deep. She could see the hatred and resentment in his eyes, the eyes that once looked at her with adoration were burning with hate. He truly did despise her, and that's what scared her…
Because Charlie knew Seviathan well, they had been raised together since they were babies. It'd be foolish for her to not be familiar with his mannerisms, especially since she had been engaged to him for quite a long time.
Unlike his sister who went out of her way to torment others purely for the sake of being malicious, Seviathan had no such drive. This however, was not to say Seviathan was incapable of being a dick(Charlie knew all too well of that side of him) but he didn't go out of his way to cause the suffering of those around him.
The exact reason why was something Charlie wasn't completely certain of but she speculated Seviathan's ignorant nature kept him from being a malicious monster like his sister was.
Of course, Seviathan's ignorance didn't mean he couldn't be dangerous, Charlie would be a fool to assert otherwise.
Ignorant or not, Seviathan was the Prince of Envy, son of one of the most powerful beings Hell had ever seen. He wasn't someone to be trifled with and even she felt uneasy about his ire being on her,especially given their history together…
Charlie knew better than to underestimate Seviathan, he was fully capable of being as vile if not more so than his sister if the situation called for it and given he had a score to settle, there wasn't a doubt in Charlie's mind he'd change his attitude just for her.
The Prince was out for blood and she knew her ex would unleash havoc upon those who dared to stand in his way.
She just prayed that she'd be able to get out of this situation before Seviathan got any ideas of trying to seek retribution against her.
The Princess of Hell sighed as she turned off running water before stepping out of the shower and drying herself off with a towel. Once she was done, she stepped in front of the mirror, gazing at her body wearily.
Her arms were still covered with the 'bandages' that Angel had given her a while back. Surprisingly they still held up after all this time.
She could still feel the wounds underneath, wincing when she touched her right arm, feeling the unhealed skin underneath the plant. Charlie decided to peel back the bandage just a bit to see what her arms looked like underneath and hissed at the sight of damaged skin.
Without proper medical care, Charlie's arms couldn't heal properly and the skin was still heavily damaged. The redness may have lessened but the scars were still there…
'Times like this make me wish I had kept my fire resistance…' She thought to herself before moving to get her clothes on.
Once she was down, Charlie did a small twirl as she looked in the mirror, admiring her reflection.
On the other side of the mirror she saw herself wearing a candy apple lace bralette with matching panties that brought out her ample breasts and slender curves. Over top of that was a large robe that draped over her body, going all the way down to her feet. The robe was white with gold fluff trim around the neck and the sleeves and at the ends.
"Hm…not bad…not bad at all…"She murmured to herself, admiring her reflection,"Better head to breakfast though. Can't get anything done on an empty stomach."
She walked out of the bathroom and made her way to the kitchen. When she did so, she noticed Alyssa and the other maids were preparing something in the kitchen. Neither of them had taken any notice of her until she asked,"How's breakfast coming along?
Alyssa blinked in surprise at her sudden appearance, stammering slightly as she bowed,"Oh, forgive me for being somewhat startled, your highness. I hadn't noticed you were there. Please forgive me for my clumsiness."
"Uh…it's fine,"She mumbled, uncomfortable at the overly polite gesture the gray skinned woman made towards her,"I was just wondering when breakfast would be ready…"
"It'll be ready soon,"She assured,"However, I must ask, is there anything you particularly desire today? It's been quite a while since you've been here, Charlotte, and my memory of your favorite meals is a bit hazy."
"Are you certain? I don't want to take up too much time, you know. I do have many things to do and I'd rather not waste it here…"
"Oh no, it's quite alright. It is our job to serve you to your heart's content after 'll cook anything you want, nothing you ask is too much of a task for us," Alyssa was so caught up in abiding by her manners she hadn't noticed Charlie's state of dress and averted her gaze,"Your highness! What are you doing dressed like that? You know it's highly uncivilized to walk around in such revealing clothing do you not? Didn't your parents teach you how to look presentable before your subjects?"
"They did," She retorted,"However, I felt like dressing like this today. It never hurts to cut loose and wear something a bit more relaxing. Besides, showing a little skin never hurt anyone. It's not like I'm a child, I'm several centuries old believe it or not and I don't appreciate being scolded like a child over my choices of dress by my own maids. Do I make myself clear?"
She hadn't meant to make it sound like a threat, however Charlie's irritable tone must've translated to genuine anger as Alyssa quickly changed her tune,"Y-You make yourself perfectly clear your majesty. I'm sorry for overstepping my boundaries.."
'Dammit…forgot you can't even be somewhat annoyed around people without them thinking you'll cut their head off…'
As annoying as it was to be sucked up to all the time, she knew she couldn't fully blame her. Alyssa meant well and she likely was just trying to cover for herself out of fear Charlie might report her to her parents.
It didn't help that Charlie had created this childish and immature persona in order to keep her Father off her back and no doubt the rest of the maids believed she was some overgrown woman-child they had to walk on shells over. She could sense the fear in their eyes, the power she had over them making her nauseous.
She didn't want them to be paranoid of her, for them to be fearful of her making even the smallest step towards them. She wanted her subjects to adore and admire her, not to crumble to their knees out of fear upon making her slightly upset…
She narrowed her eyes, sighing, she really did wish she could tell them to knock it off, however she knew she couldn't let her facade slip, especially not now. If they knew she was getting soft they'd likely tattle to Lucifer and it was better for them to fear her than for them to believe she was weak…
"I'd consider punishing you for that offense, but I don't believe that'd be a waste of time and energy. However don't think you're off the hook just yet, disrespecting the brown isn't something one should take lightly. You are lucky that I'm in a merciful mood today. If you wish to make up for your insolence I suggest you abide by my demands."
"And what would that be, my Lady?"
Charlie put a hand under her chin before a smile grow on her face,"Well, I have a few…delectable ideas in mind. Mind creating a few…sweet treats for breakfast? I know it's not exactly healthy but I do figure treating myself would make up for the incident that occurred just now. How about a few cinnamon rolls and cinnamon waffles and chocolate chip pancakes with syrup and sprinkles on top?"
"That's…a rather specific request, however it is very much doable,"Alyssa admitted,"Though are you certain you'll be able to eat all of that, your highness? That seems a bit much for someone your size…"
"Are you questioning me?"
"Of course not, your highness. We'll be right on it…" Alyssa replied before looking at the other maids and growling,"Well? What are you waiting for? Get to it ladies! Those meals wont prepare themselves!"
"Yes madam!"
The maids quickly got to work in preparing Charlie's request, working as fast as their nimble hands could move. Charlie watched in awe as they began working in a synchronized fashion to get her meal prepared, not uttering a peep as they worked with utmost concentration and diligence.
It was honestly rather impressive, no doubt they had been trained for centuries, likely the finest chefs in this entire Land if they had managed to enter the royal Family's palace, having served for centuries making delectable meals for their Royal's that would suit their palette.
They cooked at such an agile and concentrated pace. It didn't take long before they made the meals that Charlie requested, decorating them with all sorts of condiments like sprinkles and frosting to make the desert even more appealing.
Charlie could feel her mouth watering at the sight of the finished breakfast desserts and placed it all on a tray for her on separate plates. The maids and Alyssa bowed their heads out of respect once they were done while Charlie sat there at the table in awe. They had truly gone out of their way to serve her, making multiple sets of meals and each meal appeared to have been placed on a silver platter.
"Your meal, your highness. We hope you enjoy it…"
"I shall…" Charlie said before taking a bite of the first cinnamon bun she managed to get her hands on. She had many meals prepared in her life but these looked positively scrumptious.
God..she could hardly keep herself from taking a bite automatically. Still, she had to be positive they tasted as good as they looked and took a small nibble just to be safe. She knew she was being paranoid but she just wanted to be positive before she thought of making her next move.
It tasted…amazing. One of the best things Charlie had tasted in her entire life(and that was truly a high bar given all the things she had eaten in her long life). It was like an explosion of flavor had taken over and she couldn't help herself when her hand reached out for another, clearly not fully satisfied.
Charlie wasn't going to lie, she had taken more than a few bites out of the meal that had been had been so long since she had eaten any treats and the Princess of Hell had quite the sweet tooth when it came down to it. It sure as hell beat the foods they had been scavenging on back in while they were on the run, having to forage for fruits and vegetables just to get by.
To say this was a vast improvement would be the understatement of the century.
Of course, Charlie restrained herself from eating everything up.
Not only would she get the stomach ache of a life-time trying to devour this many sweets but she still had her allies in mind while having these desserts prepared. The food quality at the prison was atrocious and she recalled Angel Dust being in awful health last time she saw him, no doubt the man was malnourished and hadn't gotten a good bite since they landed in this joint.
Still, she'd have to do it away from these prying couldn't arouse suspicion from the housekeepers,especially since they had brought her charade thus far, she might as well go the full way while she still had time,especially since it was only a matter of time before the prisoners got on the move again.
"Is something wrong, Princess?" Alyssa asked,"You've been staring at your food for quite a while, is there something we can assist you with to make it better?"
"Oh no, it's perfect, it's just that I feel that I'd like some of these meals to be saved for later. Would you mind packing the ones I don't eat in a box?"
"Anything for you, your highness.."
Charlie took the food that she believed she could handle while the rest of the maids packed everything else in a box. They had made several meals for her that had Charlie bothered to eat would've probably filled her up for several days…
Once they were done, Charlie waved her hand at them dismissively,"That shall be all, everyone. Remove yourselves from my sight and do not pester me unless I call for you, understand?"
"We understand, Princess. Are we dismissed?"
"Yes."
When the maids dismissed themselves from the area and Charlie was certain the coast was clear, she exhaled a sigh of relief,"Phew…I thought they'd never leave…About time, now I can finally tend to my own matters."
With that in mind, Charlie headed off to the prison and informed Zestial that she had to pay the prisoners a visit and told him to hold off on roll-call until she was done. He seemed irritated at her making inferences with the schedule but ultimately agreed before making an off-hand comment about her meddling with his affairs.
"You need to quit making these last minute visits, Charlotte. It's getting rather irritating,"He growled.
"I'm afraid you'll just have to live with it,"She huffed, folding her arms over her chest,"I wish to play with my toys and I need to see them from time to time."
"What do you wish to do with them this time?"
"Oh nothing, just giving them a little something to get their hopes up,"She said,"I've heard one of them was starving and I didn't want them to starve. After all, I cannot have my toys dying in prison by killing themselves in your jail cells. I still have use for them and I need them all alive in order for that to work."
"Are you saying that my care is insufficient, Princess?" He asked with a growl in his voice.
"Take with that with what you will, Zestial," She retorted,"Just know that I need them alive and I will not have them starving under your care. You may care little for the well-being of your prisoners but that doesn't mean you can let them starve when your superior still has use for them. Even if you disagree with my actions you know you are in no position to stop me, don't you?"
Charlie gripped the desk in front of him, staring at him in the eye with harsh eyes,making her position unyielding and clear as day.
"I'm well aware, Charlotte…" He hissed back.
"If you are well aware then you should know better than to stand in my way," She said,"I know you all may think I'm childish, weak and in over my head, and you know what? You're probably right. I know I'm not perfect, but I will not stand idle and let someone get in the way of my goals. And anyone who crosses me will find out the hard way of how dangerous I am. Because what I lack in physical strength I make up for in political power…"
"Is that a threat, Charlotte?"
"A promise…Which if why if I were you, you'd stay out of my way and let me do as I please…"
"Go on ahead,"He balked,"I know better than to stop you, Princess. Just don't expect me to like you…"
"Wise choice…" She sneered before taking her leave, determination burning with her eyes.
Once she was gone, Zestial felt bitterness flaring up within him, Charlie was messing with his schedule and he could hardly contain his anger. Clasping his hands together, he began to plot a way to get rid of those nuisances once and for all before a wicked idea hit him, one that made a sick and twisted grin on his face…
"Oh I know just the thing to read of those pests," He sneered,"I'm tired of allowing so much free reign within my walls. It's time to do something about it, and I know just how to get rid of them…"
He cackled to himself, his gaze shifting as his plan cooked up from within. Now all he needed was to have a few words with Lucifer in order to put his plan in action.
Besides…Lucifer owed him a few favors and it was about time he took advantage of the other Deadly Sins along wouldn't take much effort, so long as he stroked their ego enough to do so.
And once he did…he'd finally have those wretched rats out of his air once and for all.
'Foolish little Charlotte..thinks she owns the place. Just as much of a brat as I remember her being. She never truly learns now, does he? Oh well, I'm certain she'll learn to respect her elders once her 'toys' are put far away from her…'
Angel Dust clutched his stomach in agony, his body trembling like a leaf. He felt so weak and drained and the more time passed, the closer to the end he felt. IT was like he was dying all over again….
The hole in his stomach was threatening to tear him apart and he had to bite his lip to keep himself from whimpering as he tried to sleep. The hunger was getting to him and his body was shaking from the lack of proper sustenance.
'I'm gonna starve to fucking death at this rate. All because those prison wardens can't bother to feed us anything decent. The slop here is so terrible and I can't force myself to eat it..I just can't…'
He had tried eating that shit..He really did, but his stomach simply couldn't stomach it. His body rejected the food and he always gagged on feeling on the verge of puking just trying to swallow it and Angel was certain if he wouldn't be able to eat an entire bowl of that junk without puking halfway through.
The only comfort he had was Wiggles, the pig was the only thing keeping his sanity from completely shattering as it was. His life was dangling on a thread and even the smallest comfort kept him together, kept him from going insane or worse…
Still, Angel feared what would happen if Wiggles stayed. He knew what hunger did to a person and he didn't want to do anything that he might regret. His stomach always growls and the urge to feed grows stronger with each passing second…
He had contemplated doing it several times…but he always went back on it. He just couldn't bring herself to kill Wiggles, not whenever the pig looked at him with those adorable beady eyes.
At times, he wondered if he could use the sheets to hang himself, just to ensure he didn't kill Wiggles and escape this endless cycle of hellish torture. His fear of the end had waned and while he didn't truly want to die, he didn't want to suffer either…
He didn't want his hunger to drive him to kill the few people he truly cared about in this world and he'd sooner end himself before allowing himself to fall so low. He had been debating it for a while and he pondered when he'd end his misery.
He had checked the blanket's height, it was long enough to use as a noose. A shoddy one and no doubt it'd be a long drawn out death but honestly he cared little about how long it would take, so long as his suffering ended, that was all that mattered.
Maybe today would be the day he finally went through with it, where he finally put aside his fear and made that leap of faith.
He doubted things would get better from here and he found Charlie's faith in him horribly misguided. Poor girl truly believed a sinner could change, it was nonsocial and laughable yet he found himself feeling pity for her….
Especially now, when he contemplated the end. She believed in him and he was going to let her down by doing this. But he didn't want to take a risk and he'd sooner end it all before allowing himself to harm his beloved pet…
Angel's internal debate was interrupted when his ears perked up, hearing footsteps approaching,"Eh?"
He wondered if the guards had finally decided to let them out of their cells,something he believed was long overdue. His concept of time was a little warped ever since he got thrown in here but he knew that those bozo's should've let them out by now..
'Maybe those ass-hats are finally going to their jobs for once…' He thought bitterly to himself, mentally bracing himself for another grueling day of work,'Just one more day, Angel..Just one more day before it all comes to an end…'
Just then, an angelic and gentle voice entered his ears, taking him off guard. He knew that voice all too well, yet he thought it was just his mind playing tricks on him, that his hunger was causing him to hallucinate(it wasn't the first time that had happened).
He groaned,"Aw fuck..don't tell me I'm hallucinating again? I can't be losing it this soon, come on, Anthony, don't let yourself slip so fast. Can't be hearing voices now…"
"Angel?" The voice started up again, this time far more clear, their voice getting closer and closer. The footsteps approached his cell and for a split second, time froze as he stared at who he believed was his guardian angel.
Then he saw her, his breath hitching as he struggled to breathe.
Before his mortal vessel outside of his cramped cage was a goddess.
A maiden with golden hair stepped forward, acting like a beacon within this dreary prison. Her skin was soaked in a pale white color, as if she had descended from the heavens themselves. Her form…it was beauty incarnate, so slender and petite.
And by god, those lips, those coal painted lips seemed to have diamonds inside of them, tiny light spots that shone in the light like precious jewels. Her golden hair tied up in a bun in such an elegant and prestige manner.
Her eyes..her eyes were a bold brown, lashes large and delicate as a flower, yet still, a fighting spirit beneath. A gentle and soothing smile escaped her coal black lips, the curtains of her lips revealed the most majestic, most pure white smile he had ever seen in decades.
That didn't even mention her body, the magnificent robe she wore may have covered a good portion of her body but he could still see her cleavage and parts of her legs. Her body was sculpted perfectly, having adequate proportions in every area, not too little, not too much…
Normally, Angel would think he had lost his goddamn mind if he thought of a woman like this. But this…this was no woman, this was a mythical being, a divine being that resembled something you'd see in a fever dream than in real life.
After all, perhaps his time of death was coming sooner than expected. Maybe he had died in his sleep and he just hadn't realized it yet and his guardian angel had come to deliver him to the underworld.
When she unlocked the cell door, she reached down and touched his cheek with a warm and soft touch.
He snapped out of his haze and looked into her eyes, his heart racing when he saw Charlie staring back at him cunningly,"Are you alright, Angel? You look completely out of it….Has the hunger been getting to you?"
He didn't respond, too caught up in what he saw to properly respond. The compassionate gaze in her dark brown eyes captivated him and Charlie rubbed the tear that threatened to escape his eye,"There's no need to cry, Angel. It's going to be alright. I'm here for you…"
"Charlie?" He croaked, his voice barely above a whisper,"Is…is that really you? You're not my guardian angel in disguise are you?"
Charlie shook her head,"Angel, I promise you, I'm very much real and I'm not a guardian angel nor am I some type of hallucination."
"Wow…it really is you, ain't it? You look…different…" He said while gazing at her lack of dress.
"You're staring, Angel…"
"W-What? I was?" He stammered, "Oh sorry, I didn't notice. I was just…caught up in everything that's all. Still a little hazy, hunger does that to ya, ya know?"
"Well, speaking of your hunger, I got just the thing to solve your little problem,"She assured before turning behind her and pulling out a box. Angel stared at it for a moment, sniffing it for a split second.
He could smell…baked goods and practically salivating just catching a whiff. He quickly tore open the box and felt his mouth water upon seeing the array of treats before him.
"W-Woah!" He exclaimed,"Where'd you get these babies from, Charlie? I haven't seen anything like this in this prison, all they ever serve us is that slop they dare call food!"
"From the Kitchen of course,"She snickered,"Those guys will make just about anything I ask of them. And I figured I could use that to my advantage to get you guys something edible for a change. Go on ahead, Angel, help yourself."
"Are you sure you don't want one?"
"Oh don't worry, I already ate beforehand,"She chuckled,"It's fine, I don't need anymore food. Besides, you need this more than I do and you deserve a treat after everything you've been through."
Angel Dust quickly took that as his Que to eat to his heart's content. It may not have been the healthiest snack but he didn't care at that moment. It had been so long since he had a decent meal and it wasn't like a few treats would kill him now would it?
The former Porn star helped himself to the meal, tearing through the treats like they were paper. He cared not for his manners or how it looked ravenously gorging himself in such an inappropriate way because frankly, he couldn't give a damn.
"Uh…Angel, I don't want to interrupt your feeding time but I'd advise slowing down a little. Wouldn't want you to choke now would we?"
"Huh? You say something? He asked, peeking at her with his face covered in frosting, clearly having not paid attention to a word she had said.
Charlie snickered at the sight, Angel had several bits of frosting hanging off of his face, his hands sticky with the tasty substance that was sprawled across his face in a sloppy manner. It was rather humorous and she couldn't help but laugh at Angel's messy appearance.
"Pfft!"
"Hey, what's so funny, Charlie?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. He was trying to look serious but Charlie found it hard to take Angel seriously when his face was covered with food.
"You…"
"Geez, haven't heard that one before,"He replied,"You ain't the first to find me funny, Charlie. Though most laugh at my misery.."
"Don't worry, Angel, I'm not laughing at your expense. I know most haven't treated with
Kindness over the years but I assure you that I'm not like the other demons you've encountered. I won't laugh at your misfortune. In fact, I honestly think you look rather cute…"
"Really? Ya think I look cute with all this white stuff on my face?"
Charlie stammered for a second, struggling to think of what to say next,"W-Well, why wouldn't I? Am I not supposed to? Is there something wrong with that?"
"Oh no, sweetheart. It's alright with me,"He chuckled,"I was just messing with ya, I know you wouldn't purposefully hurt my feelings, Charlie. We both know you're too sweet for that.."
"Aw shucks, Angel. I'm not really anything too special you know…"
"Biggest lie I've ever heard,"He scoffed,"You're the Princess of fucking Hell, Charlie, spawn of Apple Daddy himself and you've got the nerve to say that you ain't special? Get that shit outta here."
"But I don't have my powers anymore, Angel. What good does my title mean if I don't have the physical powers to back it up? Especially when everyone else around you has some sort of power while you get left in the dust…"
"Don't put yourself down, Charlie,"He said, placing a hand on her shoulder,"Because powers or no powers, you're the toughest person I know. You've fallen into this world, stripped of all your powers and natural abilities and you still hung on. I doubt the rest of us would've been able to do that had we been in your position. You're a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for and just because you're powerless doesn't mean you're weak. Because what matters is in here,"He then placed his hand on her breast,"I know you've got a lot of pressure on ya, Charlie, but you gotta have more faith in yourself, you hear me?"
"Yes…"
"Good, cuz I don't wanna hear anymore stuff about you not being good enough anymore. You're worth it, Charlie, and I..I just want you to know that cuz you're one of the few fuckers who ever gave a damn about me and I don't want to lose ya."
"Hey,hey, there's no need to get upset, Angel,"She said, wiping off the frosting off his face that mixed in with the tear streaming down his cheek with a napkin,"I'm not going anywhere,Angel. We're going to stick together and it's gonna be alright…"
"Promise?"
"Promise…"
He then embraced Charlie in a tight hug,holding her tightly, wishing that this moment would last for all eternity. She was like a beacon of light in a dark tunnel, a glimmer of hope in a cruel and twisted world that only scorned and hated those who were different, who jeered at those who even made the smallest attempt to improve the world for a better.
"Angel…"She called out,"I appreciate the tender feelings, but I'd really like it if you stopped crushing my spine…" She cringed as Angel's tight grip suffocated her rib-cage. Definitely not the most pleasant feeling in the world as you could imagine…
"Oh sorry…" He mumbled, sweating nervously,"Sometimes I forget my own strength…"
"It's alright…" She said,"Besides, so long as we're on the same side, I feel like things might have a chance to be better. Because, Angel?"
"Yeah?"
"No matter what happens, I need you to promise me you won't give up. That no matter how far apart we are from each other and how hopeless things may seem, I want you to know I'll always be out there searching for you so long as I breathe. Got that?" She asked
"Loud and clear, Charlie. And the same to you, because if anything happens, I'll go back to Hell itself and tear the place apart just so see you in one piece. We're a team and nothing, not even Lucifer himself that's gonna come between us and make it out in one piece."
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that…'' She said before flinching when something nudged her foot. She then saw Wiggles and smiled,"Oh hey, Wiggles. How was reuniting with Angel?"
The pig squealed with joy and Angel patted the pig over the head,"He's missed Daddy and he loved every second of time we had together."
Charlie then grabbed Wiggles and carried him in her arms,"I'm glad you two are happy with each other. Unfortunately, I cannot stay here forever. Zestial finds these visits rather tiresome and I need to give the others some food before I go."
"You're gonna come back though right?"
"I'll see if Lucifer allows me to. Knowing Zesital, he probably filed a complaint about me wasting time. Still, if I'm not allowed to see you guys, I'll try and make sure they feed you guys better food so you all can get by."
"Thanks Charlie…I appreciate it," He said,"I'll see you around. And take care of Wiggles for me, alright?"
"Been doing that for a while, I don't plan on stopping now…" She chuckled,"Don't worry, Angel. I don't plan on giving up on you or anyone else for that matter. We're gonna get through this. I swear on it…"
"I'll hold you to your word, Charlie. Stay safe out there, it's a dangerous world out there so be on your guard…"
"I shall…"
When Charlie took her leave, Angel Dust sat on a bed, contemplating his thoughts.
A weary smile remained on his face before sighing,"Guess ya still have something to live for, Anthony. Gotta keep hanging on for yourself…Gotta keep hanging on for her…."
As he sat on the bed, he couldn't help but recall of how soft Charlie was, how gentle her touch was…how delicate the mound of flesh in her breast was when he squee-
"Woah there! Gotta get my mind outta the gutter!" He told himself, slapping himself a few times,"Get a hold of yourself, Anthony! You're fucking gay, ya can't be attracted to a woman. She ain't nothing special, you've seen more conventionally attractive gals before and they never got ya like this…"
Despite trying to sound assured, Angel could feel the uncertainty and panic in his voice. In all his years, Angel always viewed women's appearances with indifference. It didn't matter how big their breasts were or how thin their waists had been, nor did it matter how wide their hips were, Angel cared not a bit for it. He had seen countless other girls naked in his life and none of their sexual properties excited him.
He was always assured of his sexuality, or at least, he thought he had been until now.
But Charlie, she did something no other woman managed to do, she made him feel things, things that he had never felt towards any other woman before and he was honestly scared, frightened to the bone even.
The feelings he possessed, they contradicted the identity he had built up for decades. He was known as a gay man by those who spoke his name and he never once disagreed with their assertion since it was the label that fit him best.
Until now that is…now, an exception in his once rigid sexuality had broken through the tide and Angel wasn't certain how to deal with it. He had never experienced in depth feelings for someone before, least of all of a woman.
'Shit, Anthony…now look at what ya got yourself into?' He asked himself as conflicting emotions flooded his mind,'You can't like her…you can't…Can ya? It's gotta be a fluke, an overactive imagination. I can't like her that way…can I?'
He racked his mind for answers, desperate to find a justification for his irregular Charlie.
This feeling in his chest. This warm and fuzzy feeling in his chest that made his heart skip a beat…it made him feel things, things that a part of him wished he didn't feel, yet he couldn't help himself.
All those fond times he had with Charlie, each time they touched, he could remember every single one of them. At first, he only liked Charlie for being a pretty face, but overtime, the charm she possessed won him over and it seemed that effect still stuck with him despite the revelation.
He then chuckled, his voice hoarse and slightly maniacal.
Perhaps he was finally going insane, that had to be it. He had to be losing it. It was the only logical explanation that made any sense in his conflicted mind.
Because he, Angel Dust, loved a not just any woman, but the heir to the throne, the Anti-Christ of the Underworld, the Princess of Hell, Charlotte Morningstar. A woman who believed that she could redeem the worst of the worst, believed that any demon who put their mind to it could change.
Honestly, he didn't understand what that girl saw in him. Everyone else wrote him off as Val's whore, just a slut who was only good for having fun in the sheets. But she saw past all the bravado and sex appeal without even thinking too much about what he looked like.
She was one of the few people who didn't give a damn about his body, nor did she want to use him for her own purposes. It had been ages since he met someone who wasn't looking to use him and the only person who really cared for him outside of her was Cherri.
He wasn't sure what to do next, he had never fallen for someone like this, especially given who Charlie was. That woman was out of his league and he feared what would happen if he told her how he felt, fearing that his outburst earlier shattered any chance of the Princess liking him.
He wouldn't know yet, but he decided to keep it under wraps until further notice. For when he finally gathered the courage to tell her how he'd feel, he figured this strange feeling in his heart would be put at ease once the conflict was at its end.
Charlie paid a visit to her other allies, giving them food. The reactions from most were gratefulness and relief, none of them having decent food in ages. Though, Niffty's reaction was a little concerning as she had given some of the food to her spider pet who sometimes resided in her hair…
Yeah…not exactly a pleasant thing to think about.
Still, not all reactions were pleasant. Helsa and Seviathan seems apprehensive when she offered food to them.
The female siren refused to eat in her presence, most likely due to her pride. Charlie saw the hunger in her eyes, she was starving for a good meal but she still refused to let Charlie see her eat her offerings.
Still, there wasn't any doubt that once Charlie had left that she had eaten it. She knew Helsa well enough to know that she didn't want to appear weak and accepting offerings in front of your greatest enemy was the biggest kick to Helsa's ego.
She'd accept it…so long as no one was watching of course.
Seviathan on the other hand, outright rejected the food entirely. He shouted at her, declaring he wouldn't accept her pathetic 'peace offering' and refused to be pitied, and went as far as to throw the food at her( the projectile missed by a hair).
"Do you really think you can just give me scraps in hopes you can brush everything under the rug?" She remembered him saying,"Do you think that I'll just 'forget' what you did? That I'll just forget the centuries of ridicule I've endured because of you? Well you're wrong, Charlotte, and one day, you'll have wished your Father killed me all those years ago…"
He had continued ranting, but she had already turned her back on him by the time he had said that. She saw no reason to converse with him,especially since every conversation got more hostile than the last.
It hurt to see him like this, to see Seviathan out for her blood. She had once called him friend and something much more and seeing him so hateful made her heart tremble.
Oh, how she feared what was to come, she could only pray that Seviathan didn't get the chance to act on his ire before things spiraled out of control. She had far too many enemies and the last thing she needed was Seviathan aiming a knife at her back.
As Charlie left the prison with Wiggles, she prepared to head to her room when she heard voices whispering nearby. The Princess's ears perked up at the sound of two voices conversing and from the direction it was coming from, it appeared to be coming from the throne room.
Temptation got the better of her and Charlie decided to investigate, heading to the large doors of the throne room and carefully opening them just a bit. Not enough to where she could fit through but enough where she could peer inside and get a good look of the area around her.
'Let's see what's going on here…'
The Princess looked inside and saw Zesital kneeling towards Lucifer, who sat atop of his throne with utmost elegance and confidence, one leg over another with his hand on his face, appearing as if he were bored.
"Is that so?" The King of Pride inquired, of what was something Charlie wasn't certain of.
"Of course it is, your highness. I believe something needs to be done about those pesky little troublemakers."
"Are you certain that this would be worse?" Lucifer pressed,"You know my daughter likely won't appreciate having her toys taken away from her. She seems rather fond of them and I'd hate to see her upset."
"Its for the best, Lucifer. Better now than to play her game and allow this foolishness to continue. Being a parent is hard but some decisions simply have to be made. Sometimes the bandage needs to come off in order for things to heal faster."
Charlie frowned, already not liking where this conversation was going. She held Wiggles closer to her chest as she leaned in to hear more.? Especially since Mammon owns the blonde one and I did promise I'd let him have Vincent by the end of the month."
"Surely you can work something out. Besides, I'm certain Belphegor will be more than willing to arrange something that allows him access to Vincent."
"What about my daughter?"
"She'll live. I'm certain Charlotte will find something else to captivate her attention in due time. There's no need to be worried about her, she may act immature but she is a grown woman. You shouldn't cater yourself to her every whim. You're her father, not her babysitter and she needs to learn the meaning of the word 'no' from time to time. She may be the Princess but that doesn't mean she gets every single little thing she desires."
"Hmmm…I suppose you're right. I do need to establish limits with my dear daughter, even if it hurts me. Still, I just hope she won't take the news too badly, I know how upset she gets when she finds out someone's messed with her belongings."
"It'll come to pass,sire. Do not trouble yourself over such little things. It's not healthy for a monarch such as yourself…".
Charlie grit her teeth, angered at the topic of their conversation. How dare they speak of her as if she were a child and mock her beliefs! Oh how she wanted nothing more than to shove her first up their faces so hard they'd be seeding Heaven…
The Princess had planned on backing away to confront her Father about this topic in private, however, unfriendly for her, her luck had run out and Zestial took notice of her breathing.
Zestial then paused for a moment before calmly saying,"Oh hello, Charlotte. Quite a nosy girl not you? It seems you can't seem to mind your own business…." He chuckled,"Do you have anything to say for yourself, dear? You know we'd just love to hear it…"
Charlie snarled,"I should be asking you the same thing, Zestial. Especially since you and my Father were having an important exchange prior to my arrival. And believe me, I've heard just enough about you and your little scheme. I know you're trying to get rid of them and I won't let that happen…"
"Afraid it's too late for that,"He chuckled,"Lucifer and I have already decided."
"What!? You have?"
"Of course we did,Charlotte," Lucifer remarked,"I thought you would have known your old man a bit better by now. I know it's hard, Charlie, but you have to believe that this is for the greater good. Those prisoners have been distracting you and with them gone you'll finally be the Princess we've always wanted you to be…"
"Y-You can't be serious…"
"We're dead serious,"Lucifer said,"I've received enough complaints about you and your behavior as it is, Charlie. I understand your frustration but it's for the best that we get rid of these tools and get you some actual friends."
"But I don't want that!"
"Charlotte, dear, this isn't about what you want anymore,"Lucifer chided,"Don't be upset, my sweet. Daddy is going to take care of it and put them far away so you can focus on your duties. All I'll have to do is tell the other Deadly Sins of the arrangement and it'll be all set and done."
"You can't do that! I'm still using them!"
"Playtime's over, Charlotte. Its time you outgrow those toys and put these people aside. Those prisoners serve no use for you anymore and besides, all they do is waste space in our dungeon. We've got others to put in their palace and I'd rather someone else deal with them than have them all under my roof."
The Princess was aghast, horrified and terrified. She couldn't believe her ears and eyes. After all this time, all this pain, Lucifer Cared not a bit for it and was looking to see them shipped off elsewhere…
"Where are you even putting them!?"
Lucifer shrugged,"Just planning on delivering them by the end of the month to Belphegor. After all, he could use a few new test subjects for his experiments. He always complains about the lack of willing volunteers and I'd give a friend a hand. I'm certain he'll be just delighted once we hand the prizes over to him."
Charlie could feel her world collapsing, her heart slowing down as her breath hitched.
This was bad…This was very bad…
And the worst part was, that Charlie had little clue what to do next, merely standing there with her jaw agape and her eyes wide as can be as reality came crashing down.
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Enigmus-288: Yeah Bethesda's kind of a bitch, no surprise there. Because while Helsa is a bitch, Seviathan...he's a monster, a vengeful one at that. His ignorance has held him back from being worse, but it won't last forever as you'll see soon.