Daily Disclaimer: Check out my DA for art and type EmeraldOverlord in the search box since I have art of my fic on there.
BTW, the song used is 'You Are My Sunshine' by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell.
"You can't do this,"She growled.
"Take it up with your father," Zestial proclaimed with a wicked grin."He's the one who ultimately makes the decision, Charlotte. And he seems to agree with me."
Charlie faced her father's alternate,"Dad, don't listen to him! This is just a trick to get what he wants, it's not by any means necessary. There's nothing wrong with keeping them here is there?"
"But it would be rather inconvenient to house them for such a long period of time. Besides, it's not as if you can't find new toys, Charlie. You don't need to stoop so low as to use prisoners as a source of entertainment. There are far better alternatives than mingling with those convicts."
"But I don't want to get rid of them!"
Lucifer sighed,"I was afraid you were going to say that. Charlotte, please don't be difficult. I know it's a tad hard to let go of the attachments you've formed but there's no need to cry. You'll come to forget they ever existed eventually, it's simply a part of growing up. You discard toys that exhaust their use and the sooner you realize that, the better off you'll be."
"You know nothing about us, what is best for me, Lucifer. Do not claim to know me better than myself because I can tell you right now that this does nothing to improve my behavior,"She balked, anger rising in the Princess's voice at her Father's outrageous claim.
"Charlotte, do not raise your voice at me,"He commanded firmly,"As your father, I command respect and I do not appreciate being belittled by my own child."
"Oh sorry, how dare I not be a mindless drone who kneels to your every command like some type of subservient dog,"She hissed,"Maybe you've mistaken me for that bastard over there but unlike Zestial, I refuse to kneel towards anyone, least of all my own Father."
"Still rebellious as always, Charlotte. You never change,"He murmured, pinching the bridge of his forehead,"What a shame. I would've thought with the warm welcome you received you would've mellowed down yet it appears that is too much to ask, isn't it? How ungrateful…"
"You know I warned you this would happen, Lucifer. Your daughter is unstable and unfit for her position. I told you spoiling her would only result in unruly behavior."
"I know you did not just lecture me about my 'behavior', Zestial,"She snarled,"You are the last person to criticize me about my attitude. Who are you to speak, judging a royal monarch,especially one who is heir to the throne? Do you think you are in the right to judge me for my actions?"
"Given your maturity, I believe I'm well within my rights, Charlotte, given your past transgressions. It's about time something was done and sending those nuisances away will be better for everyone involved, including yourself. You may not see it now due to your ignorance blinding you, but you'll be thanking us once this is all over,"He snickered.
God, the smugness that irradiated off of his face. Charlie wanted nothing more than to push that pompous grin right off that bastard's face for insulting her. The urge was so hard to resist and it was taking her all to not try pummeling him for daring to speak for her.
"Daughter, cease your violent movements at once,"Lucifer demanded upon seeing Charlie's fist ball up,"There is no need to get hostile. Lord Zesetial is merely acting in your best interest."
'That is the biggest lie I've ever heard today…' She thought flatly,'Acting in my own interest my ass, he just wants to get rid of my allies purely for his own benefit. I cannot believe my Father is falling for such an obvious lie!'
It was so infuriating, the way Lucifer and Zestial looked at her, they didn't see her as a Princess.
No, they saw her as a little girl waving around her title as if it were a magic wand. They were treating her like she was a child, acting as though she was a small toddler who was having a fit over their toy being taken from them.
Had Charlie retained her fire powers she would've been breathing fire with how pissed they were making her.
The worst part was that Zestial was smiling, no, grinning at her with the proudest grin ever, as if he were the righteous one in the room. This twisted son of a bitch must've thought he was doing her a favor(of course without her consent) in making her 'more mature' by getting rid of the 'toys' she liked.
Well she sure as hell didn't appreciate this 'kind' gesture of his and was going to make it clear just where she stood on the so-called proposal.
"Do you even hear yourself,Father?" She demanded,"because if you think this arrogant, convoluted son a bitch gives a DAMN, and I mean it, a DAMN about anyone other than himself then you are sadly mistaken. The only interest he acts is within his own and you're delusional if you think otherwise."
Zesital and Lucifer fell silent before Zesital left out an exasperated gasp,"Oh I told you this would happen, Lucifer! Your daughter has become unruly again and has no respect for know what happened the last time she got upset, she might decide to run away from her problems like she had all those centuries ago. You need to do something before those toys cause another falling out within the family. You just got her back, do you truly want to risk losing her again?"
"Father, don't listen to this lying scumbag! He's just trying to stroke your ego and trick you into giving him what he wants. Do not abide by his words!"
"My decision is final," He declared,"It may be hard to hear, Charlotte, but this is for your own good. You may hate us now, but you'll thank us later once these no good cretins are out of your life once and for all."
The Princess's body shook with fury, how dare they make their own decisions for her in their stead!? The insolence!
"But Father-"
"No but's, Charlotte. This is for your own good. You may not understand now, but I assure you that you'll understand our intentions once you fully mature."
Charlie snapped,"You know nothing about me! Don't act as if you are doing this for my own interest, this was for your interest and yours alone! I hate you!" She then glared at Zestial,"I'll get you for this! Mark my words, you will regret this!"
Charlie stormed off, Lucifer lowered his head.
"That went far worse than I had expected…"
"Don't worry, Lucifer,"Zestial assured, patting the blonde on the shoulder with a comforting smile,"Children can be frustrating to deal with. Don't hold it against you. Charlie's just having a tantrum. It'll come to pass. Give it a few days and I'm certain she'll come around. You know she can't stay mad at you forever now, can she?"
"Are you certain,Zestial? I don't want to lose my daughter again…"
"You won't lose her, Lucifer. We won't have a repeat of last time. I can assure you that."
"So what now?"
"I believe it'd be best to get the other Sins in on this. Especially since Mammon owns the blonde. No doubt he'll have something to say about him being transported to Belphagor's palace. I'm certain it's nothing you can't handle though you should be careful in case he gets hostile…"
"I can handle Mammon," He admitted calmly,"I've known the man for eons, he's incredibly stubborn but he can be made to concede under the right circumstances."
Zesital grinned,"That's exactly what I was hoping for you to say, My Lord…"
"RRAAGH!" Charlie screeched as she began tearing her room apart in a fit of rage. She tore through the luscious drapes down and threw them aside, fueled by blind fury.
She couldn't believe it, the nerve of those bastards to disregard her opinion in favor of their own! It was infuriating, to be infantilized to this degree, it made her feel worthless! As if her opinion didn't matter! She had no true say in the discussion and her Father more or less dismissed her opinion entirely in favor of Zestial's biased one.
Whatever she could get her hands on was free game to destroy, she wrecked the place, kicking and screaming. It didn't matter if she was tossing tables over, tearing down paintings or even throwing paintings off the walls, at that moment, she couldn't care less about how much damage she caused. All that mattered was taking out her anger on the nearest object around her, everything else be damned.
Eventually, however, like any other living being, Charlie soon began to exhaust herself. Her rage could only fuel her for so long. When she tuckered herself out the Princess panted and heaved, her breath ragged from all the energy she wasted. Her body shook violently, unable to stand still.
Her knees wobbled before she collapsed on top of the unkempt bed, gripping the bed sheets tightly as she sobbed into the cloth, shouting the words,"It's not fair! I did everything right and yet it's all come undone because of that absolute bastard! He ruined everything! This isn't fair! He can't just take them away from me!"
She then felt something nudge her side and looked down to see Wiggles booping his nose against her. The boar stared at her sympathetically and attempted to comfort her to the best of his ability with his gentle nudges.
"I appreciate the attempt, Wiggles, but I'm gonna need more than some comfort to get through this one,"She sighed dejectedly.
The pig whined in response, leaning against her comfortingly since it was the best the pig could really do in this scenario.
Charlie's ears twitched when she heard the door open from behind her and heard Lilith's voice call out,"Charlotte? Are you alright? I heard a lot of noise here and…Oh…" Her voice trailed off, no doubt noticing the sight of the destroyed room and fell silent before speaking once more,"Charlotte, is something the matter?"
Charlie grit her teeth,"Yeah, there is…Haven't you heard? Or has Lucifer not told you yet?"
"I've been informed,"She admitted, kneeling down to approach Charlie on the bed and rubbing her daughter's back comfortingly,"I can't say I'm surprised by his actions. Something like this was bound to happen sooner or later. I'm impressed it took him so long to get rid of them…"
"Does that mean I should be happy about it? They were mine, Mother. Mine! He had no right to take them away from me! It's just not fair!"
"Life isn't fair, Charlotte,"Lilith said,"Even Princesses can't have everything they want. I know it's frustrating but I promise that we can give you better toys to play with. You won't have to mourn the loss if you're willing to move on…"
"But I don't wanna move on, I want them back and I want them back now!"
"Charlotte, I know it's hard but sometimes things just have to be this way-"
"No it doesn't,"She snapped,"I know what you want me to do, Mother. You want me to lie down like a dog and accept what's going to happen without you know what? I won't do that, I refuse to just roll over and accept what's going to happen without a fight. Say it's foolish but I refuse to stand down even when put in a corner."
"You never know when to quit, do you, Charlotte?" Lilith asked, letting out a sigh,"You're just like your so determined, even if it's for the wrong reasons…"
"Do not compare me to him, I'm nothing like him…"
"You know as well as I do that is not true,"Lilith scoffed,"There's no need to be like that, dear. Just because you're mad at Lucifer doesn't mean you have to forgo your connection with him. He's still your Father."
'He's not MY father,'She thought to herself, biting her tongue to hold back blurting out the truth and said,"Doesn't mean I have tolerated him blatantly disrespecting me."
"Oh Charlotte, you know your Father is just looking out for your well-being. He truly believes that he's acting in your best interest, even if you see it differently."
"Too bad he doesn't care enough to see if I agree with his way of 'looking out' for me,"Charlie huffed,"It's difficult to say you're looking out for someone when you're going out of your way to make them miserable for what you believe will result in their betterment."
"Charlotte, your Father is only doing what he believes is best for you. I Understand you don't approve of his methods but he truly does think this is for your own good. I know you are attached to your toys but you are aware we can always get better ones for you, right?"
"Nothing can replace them,"Charlie retorted,"I only want them, nobody else. They're irreplaceable."
"Were they truly that special to you,Charlotte?"
"I toyed with them for a long while, Mother. It's only fair I feel upset that Father is trying to take my toys away from me when they've grown inconvenient for him. It's not fair, he has no right to take away those who I've grown fond of! He shouldn't be able to revoke that right! It's not fair that he gets to decide what is and isn't in my best interest! Why can't I make a decision without everyone doubting me? Am I just some overgrown woman-child to you people!?"
"Of course not, Charlotte, we love you. We just believe that sometimes it's best for us to intervene in times of crisis, that's all. Your Father is merely doing what he believes is for the best, even if it's not something you personally agree with."
"Can you at least try to do something, Mom?" Charlie asked weakly,"At least pretend to be on my side dammit…"
"I am on your side, Charlotte. I know it doesn't look like it but I do want to help you."
"Then why don't you stand up to him since it's obvious Lucifer won't listen to me?"
"I'm not certain of that, Charlotte. I'll do what I can. Perhaps I can bargain with him to give you some leeway. It won't be much but maybe he'll let you see your friends once in a while."
"But I don't want to see them 'once in a while'! I want to see them as often as I would like!"
"Sometimes it's just the way things are, my dear. I'll see what I can do with your Father, though I doubt much will change. He's been looking to get rid of your toys for a while and this just provided him the perfect opportunity to do so."
"Can you at least try talking to him? At least let me communicate with them in some way while they're away."
"I'll see what I can do, Charlotte. I cannot make any promises but I will do my best if it'll put your mind at ease…" An idea then popped up in Lilith's head, seeing just how worn out her daughter looked. She eased Charlie towards her as she said,"Now come here, lay on my lap. You are absolutely exhausted. Say, how about a little song to cheer you up? Would that be alright?"
"Mhm…"
Charlie did as she was told and Lilith twiddled her fingers in her daughter's golden locks. Lilith soon began to hum a tune, an old melody to bring her daughter to ease…
The other night, dear
As I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you, in my arms
When I awoke, dear
I was mistaken
So I hung my head and I cried
Charlie blinked, her eyes flickering to life. She recognized her song all too well, her version of Lilith used to sing this to her back when she was a child. Over time, her mother had stopped doing it as Charlie got older but the melody still stuck in her head after all these years.
LIlith's voice was…so captivating and alluring and she couldn't help but find herself invested enough to join in as she sang the next verse from heart.
You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are gray
You'll never know, dear
How much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away
I'll always love you
And make you happy
And nothing else could come between
But if you leave me to allow another
You'll have shattered all of my dream
They looked into each other's eyes, singing in a humorous melody. Time seemed to pass differently in that moment, seconds turning into hours as they invested in themselves. A warm and fond feeling bubbled up in Charlie's chest as they continued their duet, letting their inner singing talents shine like a rainbow on the brightest day.
You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are gray
You'll never know, dear
How much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away"
Eventually, their voices died down and they remained still, the only movements being their breathing and Lilith moving her hands in Charlie's hair. She then said,"Charlotte…please stay with us, will you? It's been so long since we've been happy together and I don't want you to run again because of your father's decisions…"
Charlie bit her lip before saying,"I won't, Mother…I promise…" Despite saying those words, Charlie felt uncertainty bubble up inside of her, though she hid this from Lilith's alternate to avoid drawing suspicion.
"Thank you dear, I know it's hard and we're going through a rough patch, but I promise that by the end of this we're going to be a happy family and that this will come to pass. We're going to get through this, no matter how long it takes. I know it feels that everyone's against you but I promise everyone has your best interests at heart."
'Biggest lie I've ever heard…' She thought bitterly to herself,'Zestial may have them fooled…but I know better. That lying bastard cares for himself and himself alone. To think my Mother truly believes he cares is astonishing as it is disappointing. I'd try convincing her..but considering how Lucifer responded I doubt it'd do me any good. Best play along and be a 'good daughter' in order to see if I can gain some leverage.'
Charlie nodded her head,"You're right, Mother. I'll try and keep myself on my best behavior to remain in his good graces despite our disagreement. It's clear I'll have to open my mind to him and I'll do what I must in order to negotiate our terms…"
"Thank you dear, you're far more mature than they believe you to be,'' Lilith remarked,"Someday you're going to be a fine Queen with an attitude like that. Your time to shine will come soon, Charlotte, and this Kingdom will be yours to rule one day. Isn't that exciting?"
Charlie wryly smiled,"Yeah..it is…"
"That's the spirit! That attitude is exactly what a future ruler needs in a time of crisis. Circumstances change and sometimes deception is necessary in order to get what you desire. You can have no desire of giving someone what they want but so long as you remain collected and use your silver tongue, they'll lap up just about anything you say. People make judgments based on your appearance and many think you're an innocent lamb , naive and foolish, but I know better. You are keen and agile, and your docile image hides the powerful creature residing within your soul."
"But I don't have any powers…"
"You don't need powers to be powerful,Charlotte. What you lack in powers you make up in your wit. You're more than you think you are and I know there's something very special about you…." LIlith then booped Charlie's nose.
"You think so?"
Lilith gripped Charlie's shoulders with an assuring smile,"I know it. You're not as powerless as you think you are, Charlotte. I don't know what it is in particular, but I can just tell by the spark in your eyes that there's something lurking within you, something lurking waiting for you to discover it for yourself…"
Charlie remained silent before saying,"But what if I don't have anything? What if I truly don't possess anything at all? What if your faith in me is misguided?"
"Powers or no powers, you're still my daughter, I still love you, regardless of your abilities. I'm not certain of whether I'm right or wrong, but I do believe there's something about you that's special and that you are meant to do wonderful things in this world. You were made to stand out, Charlie, and you're going to shine like the star you are…"
"Thanks, Mom…I appreciate that. Everyone else treats me as if I were a child, but I'm glad there's someone who takes me seriously around here…"
"You may act a tad childish but I know you're far more capable than what meets the eye. You have a lot going for you, Charlotte, and the world will soon see what I see in you one day when you claim the throne. But until that time comes we'll simply have to make due with what we have. Speaking of which, it'd be wise to speak with your Father. Do you want to come with me or do you wish to stay here with your pet?"
"I'd rather go…"Charlie admitted,"It is within my right to be there given this matter concerns me as well."
"Then we shall go. Come along, daughter. Let's settle some unfinished business, shall we?"
"Lets…"
LIlith and Charlie to the throne room. Lilith and Charlie approached the door and heard muffled voices inside.
"Ugh, he's already talking to someone else,"Charlie grumbled,"Let's just get this over with. Whoever he's talking to can surely wait."
"Let's not be hasty,Charlotte. We should try seeing what they're talking about before we barge in. It might aid our cause…"
"But-"
"Hush…listen…" Lilith said, putting her finger to her lips. Charlie fell silent and leaned against the door as well, the two royals leaning in to overhear the conversation.
"Are you kidding me, Lucifer!?" A masculine voice snapped,"You can't be serious!"
"I'm dead serious. Belphegor is taking all of them at the end of the month, including him."
"That is not your choice to make! He's mine,Lucifer! Mine! You can't just take him from me without proper consent! There wasn't even prior discussion about this, you just decided to change your mind on a whim and now you expect me to be OK with this!?"
"It's hardly that big of a deal. He'll be given back to you once Belphegor's done with him. Once that's done you can do whatever you please with him."
"But that wasn't part of the deal, you said I could have him at the end of this month! Why are you going back on your word, Lucifer!?"
"The circumstances have changed and as a result, former promises can no longer be upheld. I know you're upset but this is only temporary. It's not as if you have to give up full ownership over him, it's more or less just postponing the inevitable. At the end of the day, you'll still have him, just a bit later than planned."
"But Vincent is my property, I shouldn't have to give him up!"
Charlie grit her teeth, already knowing who was on the other side of the door. She had a hunch, but those words confirmed her suspicions. Having had enough of this conversation, Charlie reached for the door and slammed it open.
Inside the room, Mammon, Lucifer and Zestial stood there, all three men somewhat busted by her sudden intrusion.
"Oh…it's you, Princess…"
"Charlotte…"Lucifer whispered.
"Back so soon, Morningstar?" Zestial teased,"It's barely been an hour and already you come to try your luck. Do you think there will be a different outcome this time around because if so, you're quite delusional…"
"Pay respect to my Daughter,Zestial,"Lilith commanded, Zestial flinching at the sight of her.
"Your highness…Forgive me, I hadn't noticed you were there. I was merely just informing Charlotte of our current circumstances. I meant no harm…"
"Save your excuses, this conversation has nothing to do with you,"Lilith said, brushing him off entirely,"You are dismissed, Zestial. This affair is between my family and the other Deadly Sins. You are not welcome here and you should go back to your station."
"But-"
"Zestial, I'm afraid that you misunderstood. This is not a request, it is a back,else I'll have to dismiss you from your position as prison warden. Do I have to do that or are you going to obey my order?"
"A-As you wish, your highness…" He mumbled before scrambling out of the room.
Charlie sighed in relief once he had left,'One menace down, one more left to go…' As she locked her eyes on Mammon, Charlie's eyes filled with disdain as she growled out an introduction,"Lord Mammon."
"Dearest Charlotte…" He hissed before smirking at her attire,"My my…how you've grown. Just as beautiful as your mother. It seems grace and beauty does run in the family, doesn't it?"
Charlie scowled, she desperately wanted to tell Mammon to go shove his praise elsewhere but bit her tongue. She couldn't take any risks while her alternate parents were here and instead went for a more affable approach,"Indeed it does, unfortunately I can't say the same for you…"
Mammon sent her a glare,"And just as headstrong I see. Tell me, is there any particular reason you and your mother are here right now? Because I don't remember Lucifer informing me anyone else would be present."
"Because he already spoke with me before, it's just that I don't believe the conversation is done yet. However, since he summoned you here, I do believe it'd be best if we talked heart to heart. It's been a while since we've seen each other and it wouldn't hurt to get caught up with each other now, would it?" She asked in a far too sweet and calm voice,"Why done we have a little convo, one on one? You wouldn't be against that now would you?"
Mammon sneered,"Of course not, Charlotte? Why would I be against friendly talk? It's been a while since we've chatted and we do have some…unfinished business to attend to. Lucifer, would you mind giving your daughter and I some…private time? We have to talk. Alone."
Lucifer seemed a tad reluctant,"Are you certain you can't do it here?"
"Most definitely. Besides, I'm certain that while we're away, you and Lilith can discuss whatever you wish to talk about. We promise it's nothing that'll take too long. We just need to have a little…heart to heart as one would say."
Lilith then smiled,"Let them go, honey. It's what our daughter wants and it's not hurting anyone is it?"
"No…"
"Precisely. Let's give Mammon and Charlotte some space while we discuss some things about the upcoming arrangements within the end of the month…"
"Fine… You two can go…There's a door to your left that'll grant you the privacy you two most certainly crave…"
"Thanks for the tip…" Charlie said before following her father's direction, the Greedy Lord following after and walking by her side. The way there was quiet..too quiet for Charlie's liking and she could see his eyes peering through her with malicious intent..
Mammon then opened the door first and smirked as he said,"Ladies first…"
Charlie scoffed before entering inside. The room appeared to be a spare, most likely for when the royal family had additional guests over to party. It was dark and Mammon used his powers to light up the room, his chaos energy conjuring a green flame that radiated off a wicked aurora.
Once he was done lighting up the room, he then said,"So, Charlotte….long time no see, eh?"
"Drop the act, Mammon,"She snarled,"We're not in front of my parents, you don't need to act superficially polite anymore. I have no patience for faux affability and I'd prefer if you just got to the point…"
"Straightforward as ever,Charlotte,"He chuckled,"Such a stubborn little girl. Even after all these eons, you refuse to mature. It was cute at first but with how irritating you've become, you've grown to be such a nuisance, intervening in affairs you have no right being involved in and pitching fits when things don't go your way."
"You're one to talk about maturity, Mammon. Weren't you the one who just complained to my Father about the arrangement of sending particular prisoners to Lord Belphagor?"
He scoffed,"That was different. We had a deal, Charlotte. Your Father swore that by the end of this month, Vincent would be in my custody. And yet, he went back on his word without my permission purely because it inconvenienced him."
"That's hardly my problem,"She said,"It's not as if I want them in Belphegor's custody either, yet it seems neither of us truly have a choice in that matter. As funny as it is to see you at the disadvantage, I unfortunately am in the same predicament as you are. Though I must ask, Mammon, why does Belphegor of all the Sins get to have them?"
"Because we all owe him a few favors," He retorted,"What's it to you?"
"I have a right to know, don't I? It's not like I gain anything from knowing…"
"I owed him a few favors,"He replied,"You know Fizzarolli?" She nodded,"Well, once he died…I needed a replacement. I didn't want to draw any suspicions so I asked Belphegor to create a robot designed to fill the hole he left. Belphegor was always the more…scientifically literate of all of us, while we preferred magic, he seemed more interested in the arts of science as he would call it and he managed to create a robotic being with the basic personality of the real Fizz. The crowd was so excited to see him 'alive and well' and I made a fortune off of him. He worked like a charm…until Vincent destroyed him of course. I still have a piece of his charred remains back at my mansion to this day…"
Charlie didn't look amused whatsoever upon hearing this and instantly facepalmed at how ludicrous his reason was.
"Really? That's what you owe him for?" She asked flatly,"You couldn't have just hired someone to replace him? You were so low that you let the audience believe that Fizz 'miraculously' recovered just to make money off of him?"
"It's simply the showbiz, sweetie,"He sneered,"Gotta do what you gotta do to make an extra buck. Besides, those bozo's would've never figured it out had it not been for Vincent's meddling…"
"You don't even need that money,"She spat,"You're richer than just about anyone and yet you still choose to be a greedy scumbag…"
"I call it using my resources to my advantage, Charlotte. You may not be aware of how it works due to how your parents babied you, but exploiting is how the world goes round. Someone's gotta suffer to make the bottom line and I'm merely giving people what they pay to see."
"What is the point in telling me all this, Mammon? What is your goal here? Because whatever it is, I'm not falling for it."
"Just telling you how the world works, Charlotte. As it was, as it is and how it shall be for eons to come."
'Not on my watch…' She thought before scowling,"Your words do not intimidate me, Mammon…"
"They should, Charlotte…they really should. Though I must ask, Princess,"He addressed her title mockingly,"Why do you care so much about those prisoners? They can't be that entertaining now, can they?"
Charlie winced at the armor piercing question, resisting the urge to shiver. She refused to show weakness, least of all in front of Mammon. She swallowed her saliva before spitting out a reply,"They were my only company I had back while I was away. I would've died of boredom had they not kept me entertained. It's only fair I want to continue playing now isn't it?"
"Is that so? Or is it something more?" He asked, pressing on and circling her like a hungry wolf preying on an innocent lamb,"Is it because you truly care for those fools? Do you consider them friends perhaps?"
"Of course not, that's not what it's like at all! I care only for myself, no one else!"
He laughed,"Oh Charlotte, Charlotte, you know you cannot fool me. You care for them don't you? Is that why you've been such an irritating pest in my backside? Because you 'care' about Vincent and wanted to 'save him' from my clutches? Was that why you were so eager to try and get his soul?"
"So what if I was? Vincent is better off with me than he is with you! You don't care for him at all!"
"Watch your tone, Princess!" He snapped,"You know nothing about the things you speak of. I care about Vincent in my own way. Just because you don't understand it doesn't mean I don't care."
"Oh yeah? Then tell me what your care for Vincent looks like because from what I can tell, you only 'care' about him in order to fulfill your own selfish desires."
"Do you really think that's all there is to it, Charlotte?" He asked,"Because if so, you're sadly mistaken. Tell me, Charlotte, do you know how many concubines I have? Men…women…anything in between, I have more than plenty."
"If you have so many, why don't you use them? Why are you so captivated with Vincent that you refuse to give him up? What's so special about him that you become frustrated when someone takes him away from you, Mammon?"
"What gives you the right to know, Princess? It's not like it'll change anything…"
"Because I have the right to know what exactly drives you to him, what makes Vincent so special that you feel the need to keep him all to yourself. Is it because he refuses to give in to you, or is there something deeper to it?"
"What are you implying, Charlotte?" He asked curiously.
"I'm implying that the reason you want Vincent is far more complex than you want to admit. You said yourself, if you wanted just sex, you could easily pleasure yourself with the countless people at your disposal. But it's not about that is it? They don't have what you want. None of them do. But he does…"
"Is there a point to your rambling or are you just trying to waste my time?" He asked, the warning in his tone was quite telling, yet Charlie still persisted.
"Oh there is, because while you do have dominion over Vincent's soul, I doubt that's what you're truly concerned over. No, you're concerned someone's gonna take him from you. Because while you do own Vincent's physical being, there's one thing you cannot have, one thing that makes your fear of losing him a lingering possibility. Because despite all your power, Mammon, you cannot make Vincent love you and that is what you truly desire most, isn't it?"
Mammon stared at her in bemusement before scoffing,"Absurd nonsense, Charlotte. You are out of your mind if you think I could ever love Vincent. He is merely an asset, and like every other belonging, I intend to keep him."
"You say that, yet you still persist. I doubt you'd do this for any of the other employees under your belt. Would you fight so strongly for them, against even Lucifer himself? You may deny it Mammon, but I know that your desire for him goes past just his body. You want to conquer his body, mind and his heart. It must bother you greatly that no matter how many times he cries out your name, he never admits to loving you…"
"Silence!" He hissed, his powers flaring up aggressively,, the flames rising with great intensity"Do not press my patience, Charlotte. I've had enough of your childish rambling. If you value your life, you'd best back off…"
Charlie remained unfazed despite it all and stood tall,"Is that at threat,Mammon?"
"A promise, dear…"
Things likely would've gotten hectic had the door not quickly toned down the fire as Lilith peeked her head into the door,"There you two are,just the people I wanted to see.I take it that you two were getting along just fine now weren't you?"
"Couldn't be any better, Mother,"Charlie lied through a shining smile,"We're just catching up that's all…"
"I'm glad to hear that. It's great to see someone getting along in trying times like this. Speaking of which, I know you two weren't happy about not being able to see the prisoners but Lucifer and I managed to compromise a little."
"What type of compromise, Lilith?" Mammon inquired, curiosity laced in his voice.
"Well you know Belphegor isn't a fan of people disrupting his work. He responds very poorly when people visit his 'projects' while he's working on them so Lucifer and I decided it'd be best for you to keep in contact by mailing letters once they are transported to the Prison. I know it's not the best but it's better than nothing I suppose."
"You've got to be kidding me,"Mammon huffed,"This is outrageous. I shouldn't have to mail Vincent letters just to get him to talk to me…"
"Take it up with Lucifer if it bothers you so greatly,"She remarked,"Though I doubt it'll do you any good and you might just be stripped of the privilege instead. So if you value your ability to communicate with him I suggest being quiet, understand?"
Mammon twitched before reluctantly sighing,"Fine…"
"By the way, dinner is being prepared right now, would you like to stay the night, Mammon? I'm certain there's room for one more…"
"I'd rather not, Lilith. I've got bigger problems than an empty stomach I'm afraid…"
"Suit yourself,"She shrugged,"See you later, Charlotte. Be sure to be on time for dinner."
"I will Mother…"
Once Lilith left, Charlie smirked,"Looks like someone didn't get what he wanted…"
"Oh don't look so cocky, you're in the same predicament, Charlotte. Besides, once Belphegor's done with Vincent, he'll be handed right back to me…"
Charlie frowned at this before a wicked smile grew on her face,"Wanna wager that, Mammon?"
"Wader what,Charlotte?"
"A different type of deal. Because let's face it, neither of us like each other and both of us would prefer if the other were out of their hair. So why don't we settle this conflict once and for all, Mammon? All or nothing."
"I'm listening, Princess…"
She had to take a gamble. A big one. Now is her time to shine.
"If by the end of their stay at Belphegor's palace, Vincent manages to find someone who loves him, the magic binding his soul to your hand is to be undone."
"And what if he doesn't?"
"And if Vincent fails to find someone who truly loves him for who he is, then he stays bound to you for all eternity and I'll be in your debt for centuries to come. Anything you ask will not be denied, no matter what it shall be."
The Lord of Avarice Erupted into laughter,"My, my, daring are we, Princess? You must be quite desperate if you're willing to bet something like this! And to think you're doing this all for his soul? Is Vincent truly worth that much to you?"
"I should ask you the same question, Mammon. Now tell me, do we have a deal or do we not?
The Greedy Sin narrowed his eyes before snickering,"Are you certain you wouldn't want an aid on your side of the deal? It's quite one-sided. I wouldn't mind giving you a small leg-up..for a small prince of course…"
"You're not getting my soul, Mammon.."
He cackled sadistically,"You're loss, sweetheart…"
Charlie outstretched her hand and Mammon quickly snatched her, a green hellfire surrounding them as the flames erupted into a tornado around them. Mammon's eyes glowed with malice while Charlie's remained unwavered despite the blow-back she received, the Princess standing tall against the odds.
She knew it was foolish to make such a high stake wager based on something that was unlikely to happen, but it was the only thing she could think of. She knew Mammon wouldn't accept a deal that had the possibility of coming true and she made him take the bait.
Now all she could hope for was that Vox could find someone who loved him before the timer ran out. It was a risky bet(and one that she knew Vox would hate her for if he ever caught wind of it) but it was the only thing she could think of.
It was a risky plan, a dumb one, but Charlie was willing to give it a shot, because at this point, she knew they had little left to lose at this point.
In the back of her mind, Charlie prayed to God that this would work, if not for her sake, for Vox's sake. Because she feared what would happen if Mammon got his hands on Vox if things didn't end how she hoped.
Charlie's gaze shifted,'I sure hope this was the right call…'
Suddenly Charlie heard her mother's voice call out for her, snapping out of her trance,"Charlotte, dinner's ready! Come on out! You don't want you food getting cold now do you?"
"Coming Mother!" Charlie separated herself from Mammon, glaring at him fiercely on the way out as she hissed,"This is not over..."
"Believe me, Charlotte," He cooed,"It's only just begun..."
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Enigmus-288: You'll see it soon and it's not gonna be pretty. It's gonna get ugly, that's the least I can say about the matter of Seviathan to put it mildly.