Taming the Red Deer

by Shinji-Pilled Wojak

Adam won on Extermination Day. In this AU, Adam and Lute struck down Lucifer together, and laid waste to Hell. Alastor, who survived, was taken captive by, and subject to Adam's every belittling whim. Surviving only by the grace of Heaven, Charlie is left to pick up the pieces of her home. (This is an EARLY WIP, and will eventually be made longform. Copied off a /co/ greentext)

Alastor coughed blood and stumbled into his radio tower as the Exorcist legions triumphed, wounded and spilling blood all over his nice new carpet...

It'd gone VERY poorly, and he had to get out of here... Lucifer fell in battle, cut down under 10,000 blades, and he'd seen Charlie chained up as the rest were hacked apart.

This was not entertaining anymore, had to get away, flee, maybe go to another layer of Hell, maybe the mortal world? Anywhere but here, just needed to get-

The door flew off its hinges with a bang as the First Man shoved his way in

"HAHAH FUCK DUDE, did you REALLY think that doing that misty smoky bullshit slip-around would save you?! I'm ADAM, I can smell your tainted blood from a country fucking mile!

Alastor, for once, was petrified. Scared stiff, he could barely stand. It was over. He would die. All the planning, all the effort, all the struggle, the deals, it had meant nothing...

"LUTE!" he snapped, and his second in command was there quick as lightening.

"YES SIR!"

"Get the uh, the fucking, what is it the chains of... fucking fuck..."

"The chains of Holy Binding, sir?"

"THAT! Yea fuck, that, yea, whatever, just like chain him up."

"...Why sir? I mean we can just kill him like-"

"Nah nah I mean look at him, look at his little ears, haha, hes like a fuckin'... like a gazelle or something,"

"DEER!" Alastor snapped.

"Yes honey?" Adam replied with a half grin.

Alastor seethed with impotent rage as Lute looked him over

"Yea but uh, anyway, I wanna keep him."

"What!?" Both Alastor and the Exorcist said at once.

"Yea I've always wanted a pet, and like, pets that can't talk are boring!"

"Sir we can get you a parrot-"

"NO! NOT THE FUCKING SAME. I WANNA KEEP THE DEER, I'M GONNA DO IT."

Lute looked annoyed

"We can make him walk around on all fours and eat grass, come oooon bitch, it'll be so fuckin' funny"

Annoyance turned to interest, and Alastor gulped as she started to grin as well...

"You know..." she said after a couple moments "That might actually be kinda fun..."

"HAHA THATS WHY YOU'RE MY RIDE-OR-DIE, YESSSS!"

Alastor backed up against the wall, feeling his heart hammer faster against his chest. No, no, this can't be how it turns out, no, no no no...

Lute approached him, he fought, kicking and biting, but all he got for it was a thumb in his wound.

He screamed in agony and blacked out, blinking, when he could see again, he was in Adam's arms, bandaged and shackled, being flown higher and higher into the sky.

He was so tired... he couldn't fight anymore

"Where are you taking me..."

"Shhhh, take it easy princess, you're still all fucked up. Don't worry, I'll take good care of you."

"Please... just kill me."

"Mmmm... Nah."

It was everything the Radio Demon could do not to weep

He noticed Lute was carrying Charlie, chained up and badly hurt, over one shoulder, and Vaggie's severed head in her other hand.

"Did you spare anyone..?" he asked groggily. He had still lost a lot of blood, and was getting dizzy again.

"What like, besides Satan's little bleeding heart bitch? Uhhhh... no? Don't think so! We only kept her in case Sera is a bitch about it."

Adam's cruel laughter was the last thing he heard before blacking out again. That, and the bright light of heaven's eternal day, as the portal opened, and they flew through.

Al snapped to awareness again with a bitter and foul taste in his mouth, and gagged

As he jerked up, he felt his teeth smack against a bottle, and noticed Adam had forced him to drink something.

"WHAT DID YOU GIVE ME YOU DISPICABLE LITTLE-"

"Relax lil buddy! Just some healing tonic! Can't have you bleeding all over my carpet when we get home..."

Absurdly, Adam gave his cheek a little pinch, and stood, and that was when Alastor realized they were at the golden gates.

In front of them, the tall, dark-skinned Seraphim woman and the small pale man in the robe were giving him nasty looks.

"Adam, look, I'm sorry, but what the fuck?" Sera said, pinching the bridge of her nose with 2 fingers.

"Who is that..?" Peter asked, uncomfortably shifting. "I don't even need to check the list... whoever he is, hes definitely NOT on here."

"Yea nah its fine, he's a souvenir from Hell, hes with me."

"Why would you bring him here?!" snapped the Seraphim, looking at Adam with pure incredulity "You literally went down there to kill everything! Even if you wanted to save someone, why him?!"

Adam scoffed. "Ah come oooon Sera, lighten up! Hes harmless! I mean, hes not, but he will be! Hold on, I've got something here..."

With a snap of his fingers, Adam materialized a golden collar, with a little lock on the middle, and approached Alastor.

"No, stay away, I don't-!"

Lute grabbed him from behind and held him still while Adam snapped the ring around his throat. Instantly, he felt even weaker than he had before. It took serious effort just to sit upright.

"There! A little Collar of Binding and hes powerless! Can't so much as bite me!"

The Radio Demon inavdertently proved his point when he tried to rise to attack Adam, and yelped with confusion as he suddenly twisted away at the last moment and sprawled on the ground.

"Neat huh? Yea, the magic won't let him attack me, he'll literally throw himself aside at the last moment, and it also makes it so he can't use any of his demonic powers. He's like a mortal, except worse! Haha!"

"So... why not just kill him?" asked Sera.

"Because hes... look, I don't want to be here all day. I got Lucy's little girl, see, right here."

Lute threw Charlie down on the ground in front of the throne, with Vaggie's head. When Charlie saw that, she wailed and cried like her whole world was gone... because it was.

"Tell you what," Adam said. "I got Lucy's daughter, so I just hand her over unharmed, and you let me keep him. Deal?"

..."Deal." Sera said reluctantly.

Alastor leaned on Lute as he walked through the streets of gold and palaces of saints and heroes of virtue, eyes down, hopeless and bitter. Would the humilation ever end?

People gave them weird looks as they went by but, it was Adam, so everyone assumed it was official business, and simply ignored the odd trio.

Eventually, after having walked off the main street for a while, they came to a big mansion, with statues of women with beautiful bodies in exorcist helmets standing in a large garden, filled with flowers and small animals. A little duck pond out front, painted gold and white, with Adam's signature A sigil wrought in burnished gold on the sterling silver front gate.

"Well, here we are! My little slice of heaven. Haha, get it?"

"I hate you." he said.

He shrugged. "I think I'll grow on you, Alistan"

"ALASTOR!" he corrected, screaming it in his face. "MY NAME IS ALASTOR!"

"...can I call you Ally?"

"NO-"

"Awesome, alright Ally lets go, genocide makes me hungry. LUTE!"

She snapped to attention, performing a quick salute and standing stock straight.

"YES SIR!"

"Can you make me macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets? Pleeeease?"

"RIGHT AWAY SIR." she replied, as they went through the gate and into the house, she stopped and held the door for him and his new... pet.

"Lute you're so freaking awesome, bitch."

"I know sir."

"Ok so Ally-"

"ALAS-"

"Ahp bupbupbupbup, shhh, daddy's talking. Now, ALLY... lets get you out of that silly suit I mean come on you look ridiculous in that."

Snapping his fingers, Alastor went from wearing his signature pinstripe red suit and slacks, to a dress up onsie meant to look like a

"Much better!"

Alastor hid his face in his hands... hooves... whatever. "Kill me... please."

"Ah come on, c'mere!"

Alastor yelped as he was roughly yanked back up. They were in the living room of the mansion, an 80 inch Plasma screen TV with every channel ever conceived was on the opposite wall, and Alastor was yanked up onto the couch where Adam sat. With the collar around his neck, he had very little physical options to resist, and so he just kind of ended up in the First Man's lap.

"I wanna try something..."

Reaching deep into the thick red hair on the Radio Demon's head, he dug in and scratched at the base of his ears, stimulating extremely sensitive nerves and making him feel weak in a whole different way.

"S-stop that..." he hissed.

"Ahhh? Did I find good spot? Awwww, does the wittle deer wike it when I scwatch behind his eawrs?" his captor said in a mocking baby voice that made Alastor seethe.

"No..."

As he continued Alastor couldn't help but melt into the scratches. Nobody had ever scratched behind his ears before... he'd done it himself, but normally he didn't like to be touched at all. That... particular spot though, oooohhhhh it felt good... made his head tingle all over and caused his leg to do a funny little twitchy thing he couldn't seem to stop.

Adam leaned over and called into the Kitchen "Lute, come here, you gotta see this!"

Poking her head out, she looked and started laughing. "Is his leg shaking like a puppy?!"

"Yea I know I couldn't believe it either!"

Alastor groaned. "I-I... am not... a-a-a... pet..."

"Awwwww, gwumpy little guy... make him some food too, I bet hes a hungry wittle man, yes you are, yes you are!"

He switched from the ears to scratching under Alastor's chin. He tried to bite him and succeeded only in biting his own tongue.

"I already told you that won't work... silly little guy..."

The humiliations were neverending, and he was plotting on how to escape, but just now, perhaps it was best to lay low. They would let their guard down somehow... and when they did... he would get out of here.

After a few more minutes, Lute entered the room with 2 plates of Macaroni and Chicken Nuggets, and some meat for Alastor.

"I know demons like eating flesh... I didn't bother cooking it. Its strip steak."

The grumble in his stomach gave him away, and hesitantly, he took the steak. The healing tonic he'd had earlier had done its work well, he was feeling a lot better, and as he sunk his teeth into the meat, he felt his pulse slow a little bit. Just a tad less stress, just a little less pain.

With a surprise, he tasted salt, and pepper. The steak was seasoned... he felt absurdly grateful that Lute had bothered.

"You... seasoned it?"

"You think I'm some kind of fucking hack? Like I can't season a steak?!" she snapped, suddenly enraged.

"N-No my dear, not at all! I just didn't expect to be treated with any consideration... thank you."

Her expression softened and she huffed, taking off her helmet and tossing her white hair.

"You're welcome."

Alastor stared at her.

"...What?"

"I didn't know that was a helmet."

Adam pulled his off and sighed. "Yea, they're pretty sick huh?"

Alastor looked at Adam's face, then at his hair, and laughed.

"Pfff... nice hair."

"Thanks." he said as he switched the TV on, not at all understanding the sarcasm.

"He was mocking you sir." Lute said without looking away from the screen.

Adam snapped to look at Alastor, and frowned, pointing an acusing finger at Lute.

"I KNEW THAT! You think I didn't know that? I just... I-I wanted to make sure you got it! Thats why I didn't say anything."

"Yea sir, I got it."

For a moment Alastor thought he'd gotten away with it. Then Adam materialized a spray bottle and squirted ice-cold water on his face.

Alastor screeched and ran out of the room and around the corner behind a statue Adam had commissioned of himself. It was one of 5 in this hall alone.

"Hey! Ally! Come back! We're gonna watch Bambi!"

"N-" but Lute whipped around the corner and grabbed him before he could refuse

Alastor was swallowing the last of his steak as he watched this... odd moving drawing show.

"This is a movie?"

Adam looked at him like he was crazy. "Yea, fucking- what do you mean "this is a movie" haven't you ever seen a movie before?"

"Not like this... I'm more a fan of Buster Keaton."

"... you're so lame dude..."

"Well... I didn't say this was terrible."

It had been a wholesome film so far, very nice little story, right now he watched as the little "Bambi" and his mom ventured out in the winter snow... it was charming. Reminded him of his own mother.

"Shit man, this is the worst part." Adam groaned.

Alastor was confused. Worst part? This was very quaint and enjoyable. They found spring grass and-

A gunshot in the woods. A gunshot, many years ago, deep in the forest south of New Orleans.

A hunter's rifle cracking the peace. "RUN! RUN BAMBI!" Flashes, running through the marsh, the shots striking trees, the baying of hounds panic, fear, dread. Don't hit me... don't hit me, please don'-.

The final shot, the sharp way his head had snapped up. Then he was laying there, broken, one word pounding through his perforated skull

"Mother... Mother... Mother... Mother..."

Her face as his limbs grew numb, and his body felt cold.

"Mother..."

Dimly, distantly, Alastor was aware that someone was calling his name.

It felt like there were tears on his cheeks.

Between the silent, racking sobs, they heard him muttering.

"M-Mother... Mother... I'm s-scared... Mother..."

Movie paused and forgotten, they knelt over him. Adam looked genuinely concerned. Even Lute looked at the weeping demon with. For the first time... he wasn't smiling.

He was on the ground, knees hugged to his chest, crying.

"M-Mother... p-please... I want to go home... Mother..."

Adam pet his head. "Hey, hey dude, come on, snap out of it. Its just a movie..."

Slowly, he felt himself start to calm down...

Adam lifted the crying Radio Demon in his arms, and carried him to bed, feeling something like actual care for this... sinful degenerate. I mean, yea he was definitely a sinner, and he belonged in hell, but fuck dude, how do you bully a guy who's just breaking down weeping in front of you?

Alastor had started to calm down, and while he wasn't smiling with his teeth anymore, he had managed to return to a sad, yet small semblance of a grin.

"That wasn't because of you." he said. "I'm not breaking down because you put me in this ridiculous costume and... belittle me..."

"Well then what the fuck dude?" Why the fucking waterworks, I mean yea its a sad scene but-"

"The day I died. It was a sunny summer day, and Mother and I were having Gumbo for lunch under the oak out front."

Adam briefly felt the urge to ask what Gumbo was, but he felt like now probably wasn't the time

"Mother said that the shed out back smelled, and asked if I could go see if maybe an animal had died in there. Poor Mother, she would be crying all day if she had to bury some poor cat or possum."

"So I told her I would handle it, and she went in to do the dishes. That was when I pulled my Jowett-"

"Your what?"

Alastor sighed. "My pickup truck, around to the shed, and loaded in... ahem... the body."

"The body...?"

"Yes, the man I'd killed 3 days prior outside a bordello in the Red Light District."

Adam's eyes widened slightly.

"I will explain, but please, allow me to continue. Now, as I was saying, I loaded the body in the back, and drove into the woods. I dragged that fat... worthless... sleazy bastard what must have been a mile, and started digging."

"I didn't know that a hunter had seen me, and decided that today was the day to be a hero."

"I was just breaking ground when a shot zipped past my ear. I tried to run... but failed. And I died there. In those woods. I don't know if Mother ever even knew what happened to me."

"Why were you burying a body..?" Adam finally asked.

"I killed people Adam. I killed a lot of people."

"But like, why?"

"When I was young, we were very poor. Father had walked out on mother when I was born, and she had to do whatever she could to stay alive, and to care for me."

Adam hesitated. "So you mean-"

"Whatever. She. Could. I don't remember when exactly it started. I could have been 6, maybe 8, young though, very young. I would turn on the radio, and try to drown out the souns of my mother being... used... in the next room. Some lecherous drunkard usually, abusing my Mother's body like it was his TOY."

"I grew up though, and I found work in the one thing that let me ignore the horror all around me. The Radio. I became the star speaker on my local radio show, and I made a lot of money... enough to get out of that cesspit apartment in downtown and into a real house, near the woods. I was happy there with my mother for a time. She kept asking me when I would bring some nice girl home..." he sighed, smiling sadly. "I didn't have the heart to tell her that what I heard as a boy made it hard for me to find any sexual desire in... anything. I didn't want to be anything like those men."

His eyes went dark.

"Those men were still out there. Those men went to those seedy parts of downtown every day, and nobody fucking cared... but I cared. I would wait outside those little dens of depravity, find those men, and kill them."

"...Did you ever actually get the guys who would go for your mom?"

Alastor laughed. "I don't actually know... I just knew that anyone who frequented places like THAT... deserved to die."

"What, just for getting their dick wet?"

Alastor's grin widened.

"For being lecherous fools, who were easy prey..."

The first man was speechless for a while, which in an of itself, was something of a first.

"You got issues man..." he finally said.

Alastor laughed. "Who doesn't? But I don't regret it. I'd kill them all again if I could... I just wish I could have said goodbye to Mother..."

It hadn't struck the Radio Demon just how tired he was until now

Why had he done that? Why had he admitted that to this stuck up pompous asshole?

But... not like it mattered. For a time, keeping an air of mystery had been important, but now, well, with everyone dead... it seemed pointless.

Lute entered the room, keeping a straight face, but Alastor's story had made her feel something. He was still a bad person, but what sinners had gone through on earth to make them what they were, it just wasn't fair.

She was glad her and her sisters had torn apart that pompous little shit, Lucifer. What he'd started in humanity, the sin he'd made them desire, it caused so much suffering every day. Like ruining the life of a small boy, in New Orleans.

"If your mother went to heaven, we might be able to find her... I don't know." she finally mumbled.

Adam nodded. "Not making any promises we can't keep, but like, I'll ask around. We'll see."

Alastor stared for a long moment. raising an eyebrow. "..Why would you do that for me?"

Adam got defensive. "I-Its not for YOU or anything! If your Mom is in Heaven, then she should get to see her son!"

For the first time all day, Alastor felt slightly hopeful. His mother had been a good and faithful woman, if anyone deserved to be in heaven, it was her. If he could see her again, and tell her everything, that he was sorry, he didn't mean to disappear, he loved her, it would make all this worth it.

"Well that would be nice..." he yawned, and flinched slightly as Adam reached for his ears.

He withdrew his hand and looked away. "Sorry, if you don't want to-"

"Actually..." he dipped his head towards the First Man and shifted his ears slightly forward. "I wouldn't mind a little scratch...

Adam complied, and he closed his eyes and sighed with bliss.

"You try, Lute! Its fun!" the Exorcist hesitantly gave him a scratch. He made a low little purring sound and leaned into it. Maybe he wouldn't leave right away after all...

As Alastor sprawled across the bottom of the bed, he felt himself drifting away into sleep. Too much had happened today, too much... being outmatched in combat for the first time, recovering from severe injury, dragged through different spiritual realms, given a full belly and an emotional panic attack to go with it, combined with being treated without a hint of fear for the first time in centuries, too much had shifted and changed. He was briefly thankful for the silly little costume they made him wear, mostly because it was warm and fuzzy, and would be great to sleep in.

As he was making himself comfortable, he felt Adam rubbing behind his ears, and Lute gently petting down his back.

"Its alright Ally, go to sleep, we won't let any mean hunters hurt you, right Lute?"

Lute huffed as Alastor began to snore softly.

"Why did he have to be all pathetic and shit and make us pity him?"

Adam sighed. "Tell me about it, now I don't even want to make him eat grass..."

"Well there's always tomorrow." she said, halfsmirking before she got undressed and slipped into an old T-shirt and sweatpants for sleep. Adam just went shirtless, with pajama pants.

"Can I be little spoon this time?" she asked hopefully.

"Ughhhh, fine..." he sighed, and crawled into bed above Alastor, who stirred, but didn't rise.

Adam wrapped his arms around his second-in-command and she leaned into him, closing her eyes.

"So do you like the new pet?"

"He's got a lot of baggage..." Adam mumbled. "But hes kinda fun."

She smiled as she went to sleep. "Taking him was your idea..." she reminded him.

"I know!" he whispered, back at her. "and soon he'll be our snuggly little buddy, just you watch..." he whispered.

"Anyway... goodnight Lute."

"Goodnight Adam..."

Meanwhile...

Charlie was up to her ankles in golden and red blood, screams and carnage everywhere, Adam fighting her tooth and nail, when suddenly, hope!

Dad was there, he pushed the First Man back, driving him further and further, he was winning!

Just as the tide began to turn, a flash of black and white streaked across the blood-red sky and crashed into Satan.

Caught completely off guard, Lucifer went sprawling, trailing golden blood as he crashed into the dirt.

She heard herself scream as Lute drove down at him, and Lucifer, on the backfoot, parried desperately with his staff. He was the better fighter, but she'd caught him off guard. But how...? Vaggie had been dealing with her... if she was here, what had-

"Ch-Charlie..."

She turned around and felt relief wash over her. Vaggie was there, still alive and holding... why was she holding her neck?

Her hand fell away and a gush of golden angelic blood sprayed free, her pale skin and clothes stained as she fell to her knees.

Charlie ran to her side and caught her before she hit the dirt. No, no no no she couldn't have lost, she couldn't! It couldn't end like this!

"She... she got me... I-I'm sorry... I didn't fight h-hard... enough."

"No..." Charlie whimpered through the tears. "No its ok... you'll be ok... d-don't die on me Vaggie, I love you! PLEASE!"

"Charlie... I..." she reached to touch the Princess of Hell's face, to profess her love one, final time... and then her eyes got glassy, and she was still, arm falling limply to her chest.

As if on que, Lute came crashing to the ground a few feet away, rolling to her feet as Lucifer came on.

She caught his staff with her sword, and they braced, eye to eye.

"I'm going to clip your wings little exor- AH!"

Lucifer's taunt was clipped short as Adam's holy light struck him from behind, burning clean through his chest and leaving a hole the size of a dinner plate.

Naked shock played across his features as he staggered back, staff falling from limp fingers.

"Oh..." he mumbled. Then turned, and saw Charlie kneeling there, her lover's head in her lap, eyes wide as she watched her father die.

"Sorry... sweetie... I tried..." Then his knees gave out from under him, and he topped forward, to lay in the red and gold mud.

The tide had turned. She looked around in shock, taking it in as everything she ever loved and believed in was destroyed.

Angel Dust was still firing his tommygun when Lute's sword took him full in the chest. "This kinda penetration... d-don't feel so good..."

Husker was backing towards a wall, throwing his last card at the exorcist coming at him. It missed entirely. The axe she drove through his belly did not. "One last run of bad luck... f-figures..." the return stroke took off his head.

Nifty was roughly grabbed up, and squealed as the exorcist laughed and impaled her on a spear.

Pentious was cut apart by half a dozen angels trying to shield Cherri from their wrath. He was still fighting with a sword through his belly when the Aussie demoness' set off all her bombs at once, and killed herself, Pentious, and their 6 assailants in one raging fireball.

The cannibals routed to no avail. The Legions of Divinity cut them down as they fled, like wolves chasing sheep. Soon all of Hell was screams, blood, fire, and death.

Charlie simply knelt there, holding Vaggie's corpse. She fought when they came to chain her up, but a few rough punches to her face and she was too dizzy and in pain to do anything but cry while Lute bound her in chains and cut the head free of Vaggie's shoulders.

This was all her fault...

Charlie...

All her fault... if she hadn't insisted on this stupid "dream..."

CHARLIE!

Sera's voice broke her daze.

Everyone was looking at her. An assembled council of high ranking angels had gathered, to decide what to do after the most recent, most... thorough purge in history.

"Remembering" she said numbly, face devoid of emotion.

"Right..." Sera said. "We were trying to ask you, do you feel as though you could run Hell now? After your father's... well..."

"Murder?" she snapped.

"...Death." the Seraphim replied, not meeting eye contact.

"Whatever..." she mumbled. "Can you just kill me..."

"No..." Sera said. "We need you Charlie. We need someone to rule. We need order, so nothing gets this out of hand again.

Part of her knew she was right. There would be more people in Hell, and someone would need to keep it controlled. Orderly. Someone to oversee everything... or this could happen again.

"5 years."

"What?" Sera was confused.

"No exterminations for 5 years... then I'll do it."

Sera hesitated, but one at the end of the table spoke up. He was a tall angel with wavy chestnut hair and a fair face.

"Give her as she requests. There has been enough of an extermination already, and there will not be another overpopulation crisis for some time. There is no reason to continue besides wanton slaughterlust. Bloodshed for bloodshed's sake is not our way."

Murmurs of agreement down the table, but another angel, with short curly blonde locks, and a hard, stern countenance, spoke out.

"I would say that this is not far enough, Gabriel. Adam does war for his own vengeance, but I would settle for no less than scourging of the damned plains of the Underworld. All Hellborn must be slain as well. Everlasting fire should be their only refuge."

Sera looked uncomfortable. "I don't know, Michael... we'll call a vote."

And so they did, and in the end, Gabriel won out, by a slim margin. Michael sat, stoic, yet Charlie could tell he was disappointed.

Charlie left the meeting room, and Emily was by her side in an instant.

"Charlie, Charlie! Look... I heard what happened and... its just too much. I can't believe they killed all those people..."

"Of course they did..." Charlie sighed. "I should've done better, done something different. Maybe if I had been more lowkey... hadn't pushed as hard... things wouldn't have escalated...

Emily frowned and stopped Charlie in her tracks, holding her shoulders and looking into her eyes.

"Listen to me. You didn't do anything wrong. This was a crime... this was evil... I can't believe the others allowed this to happen... I can't believe Adam could go through with it... but I'm not going to just watch as it gets worse. I want to help. Please... I want to do something good."

Charlie thought about it for a long moment, and decided she needed allies... any allies.

"Just lay low for now... but if you want to help, tell me if something happens. If someone is coming, or you hear of them doing something to watch me... tell me. Thats what you can do."

Emily looked concerned. "What are you planning...?"

"I... I can't wage war on heaven." she said after a moment. "But if I can hurt... or kill Adam... maybe that would stop him from doing this again. I just need to find out how..."

Emily was conflicted. This would put her against everyone she knew... but... it didn't matter who she knew. She was an angel. She existed to do what was right... what Adam had done, wasn't.

"Ok... I'll let you know if I hear anything... good luck down there."

"I guess I'll go see whats left." she said, the portal to Hell opening behind her.

"Oh and Emily?"

"Yes?"

"Watch Michael closely... if he gets his way, its all over."

Without saying anything else, Charlie entered the portal, and stepped onto the grounds of her destroyed dream, to bury her dead friends, and to finally cry, where nobody could see...

Alastor woke up slowly, groggily. This wasn't his room... why wasn't he in the hot-

The battle. The fighting. Getting taken to heaven under Adam's yoke, the uncomfortable yet oddly comforting afternoon. The panic attack... the weird bonding experience, it all came back in a rush, and he groaned, stretching as he looked around the room.

The beautiful golden shine of heaven's early morning light was just coming through the window. Adam was snoring, and Alastor had been sleeping at his feet. Lute wasn't anywhere to be seen... but he could smell bacon and eggs, and pancakes... and felt his mouth water.

Water... water... oh, yea, a shower would be nice...

He crawled up the bed and poked Adam in the chest with his antlers a few times.

"Huh... wha- AH WHAT THE F- Oh right... Ally..."

"Would you stop calling me that?"

"Yea like... maybe, if I feel like it."

"I wanted to take a shower... if thats allowed."

"Oh uh, yea, sure... right in there..." he pointed to the door at the other end of the room and Alastor walked in, looking around at the large bathtub/shower combo, golden shower head and toilet, Adam's signature A on most of it, and a big mirror on the wall. Alastor took off his silly little deer onsie, and stepped into the shower, turning on the tap and sighing with relief as the warm water washed over him.

At the same time, Adam got up and stumbled into the adjoining bathroom down the hall to wash up for the day himself.

Lute, not realizing Adam was in the other bathroom, and not the shower, walked back into the bedroom, and opened the bathroom door with no warning.

"Adam, breakfast is- AH FUCK-"

"GET OUT!" Alastor snapped.

Lute slammed the door shut, then thought about what she'd seen. She hadn't gotten a good look but... she could have sworn...

She got down on her knees and looked through the keyhole. Holy shit. He had a tail.

Alastor had a cute little deer tail.

"ADAM! GET IN HERE!"

He came into the room still shirtless in sweatpants from sleep, toothpaste on still on his face. "Wha- what?! What is it- oooohhhh, did you walk in on deer boy in the shower?

"No- yes, look you won't believe this sir, but uh... he has a deer tail!" she said, giggling.

"Bitch shut the fuck up, no way dude." he said, grinning ear to ear and wiping his mouth.

"No seriously, for real! I thought you were in the shower so I walked in and... I saw it..." she suppressed another giggle. "Do you think it wags when hes happy or excited?"

"Haha fuck that would be hilarious!"

"I CAN HEAR YOU!" Alastor's voice came from the bathroom, shower now off.

Lute quickly grabbed a spare pair of pants and a shirt (with Adam's A on it, ubiquitously), but not before cutting a decisively tail-sized hole in the butt of the pants. Then she opened the door just wide enough to put them down on the counter, and then retreated back, this time respecting his privacy and not looking.

There was a pause, and then an angry growl.

"I am NOT going out there with my tail exposed for you to gawk at!"

"Well those are the only clothes you're getting... so unless you'd rather be naked, get your skinny little ass out here and show Dad that tail!

"You're really going to make me aren't you?" he said after a sigh.

"Yes!"

There was another pause, and then Alastor stepped out, ears down, hair still damp from the shower, and his tail sticking out of the butt of the pants, bright red and bushy.

Adam fell over laughing and Lute actually said "Awww!" and Alastor could swear all the blood in his body went into his cheeks.

"This is EXACTLY why I hide it... everyone always reacts like this."

"But its so fluffy!" Lute said, pointing at it with a big grin.

"DUDE ITS SO FUCKING FLUFFY" Adam said through peels of laughter.

Alastor hid his head in his hands and groaned.

Yes, yes, I have a very fluffy cute tail, it is very adorable, yes, I know, can we PLEASE eat breakfast now..."

Breakfast managed to go on for 5 minutes in polite silence before Adam said "So does it wag when you're happy?"

Alastor's fork began to bend in his hand and his teeth creaked as he tensed with rage.

"One more question about my tail and I'm going to throw this breakfast clean through your TV."

"I could just get a new one in like literally a snap of my fingers but fine, whatever." Adam said, shrugging. "You know I might go ask around town about your mom today. See if I can find her."

Alastor didn't realize his tail started wagging excitedly. "Really?"

Lute noticed and grinned knowingly. "You'd like that huh?"

"Well yes I-" he followed her eyes and blushed again. "DAMN IT"

Adam started laughing again and Alastor stood up to storm off but the First Man managed to calm himself down.

"Hey hey come on haha, hahaha fuck... sorry... its just really funny how flustered you get..."

The Radio Demon sighed and sat down. "Yes I suppose I would probably laugh too... but I am not accustomed to being the subject of the joke."

"Well, for what its worth Alastor, its all in good fun."

"...you used my name."

"Well yea!" he said, grabbing Alastor by the neck and nuzzling his antlered head with his knuckles

"We're buddies, right? I'm your owner, and you're my little deer guy!"

Alastor smiled a little, despite himself. Now he knew how Husker felt...The irony made him laugh.

When he laughed, Adam laughed, and by the end, he felt a little better.

"Do you really think you can find her? My mother?"

"Hey, if anyone can do it, its me!" he said. "You think you'll be alright with Lute here for a little while?"

She smirked. "Hes not going anywhere, I can tell you that for sure..."

"Damn right he ain't, Danger Tits. Alright, back in a bit!"

After Adam left, Lute and Alastor sat together in silence for a slightly awkward period of time before he decided to say something

"So... have you known Adam long?" he asked.

"As long as I can remember." she said. "He had the Exorcist army, and me, made special just for him."

"Oh? So you were never mortal?" he asked, leaning a little closer.

"No... " she mumbled. "But that doesn't mean you're any better than me!"

"I didn't say I was my dear, whatever gave you that idea?"

"I uh..." Lute narrowed her eyes. "I'm not used to talking to demons one on one for more than like 10 seconds before I kill them... I actually don't do much talking at all, unless its to Adam..."

"Hm... may I?" he said, motioning to the kitchen.

"Why?" she asked. "What do you need in there?"

"I was just going to make tea..."

"Oh... ok, I guess thats fine."

Lute shifted uncomfortably while Alastor rummaged around in the kitchen. It felt weird... not being the one doing the thing... usually Adam sat here... and she went and got whatever it is they needed...

It felt weirdly uncomfortable to actually be alone with someone besides Adam or another Exorcist...

Alastor returned to the room with 2 teacups. "Its Earl Grey, I hope you don't mind."

"Thats fine..." she held the warm mug in her hands for a while, and then shifted, trying to think of something to say.

"So my dear," Alastor said lightly, sipping his tea and snuggling into his oversized t-shirt. "What did you do, after the cannibals fled..?

Lute closed her eyes, and thought back to the scourging of Downtown Hell...

The thrill of combat, the screams of he Hellborn as they ran, her sisters by her sie, tearing down the monuments of damnation, and destroying the demons wherever they found them.

She flew high, high into the sky, raising her sword, still slick with Vaggie's blood, to the blood-colred sky.

"DEMON SKULLS FOR THE FIRST OF MAN'S MANTLE! SINNER BLOOD FOR HIS DIVINE GLORY!" she roared, and the exorcists returned the call "BLOOD AND SKULLS, BLOOD AND SKULLS!"

The bloodlust was upon her now, the rage of battle consuming everything. She was a whirlwind of death and none could stand against her.

The night, in truth, was a blur. Scared faces, screams, her own laughter, the taste of blood, the exalting feeling of some degenerate's life-blood warm and wet on her hands...

The pounding of her heart was a song of exhilaration, the smell of blood and gore so thick she could taste it

She remembered smashing some TV-faced freak's head against a wall so many times she could have sworn she LITERALLY broke him into a million pieces, a wide-mouthed she-demon cowering under a studio desk getting split nearly in two by her sword, flying up into the sky with an imp in each hand, and hurling them towards the ground to watch them explode into gore, flying down with such speed that the grey hellhound girl she landed on had her spine snapped clean in half before the sword took her head half-off, finally, she remembered the town square, fists to the sky, screaming in triumph as thunder crackled. It had started to rain.

Finally, victory... glorious, glorious victory... Looking at her hands, caked with blood halfway past her elbows, her clothes and mask, more red than white or black, and the various cuts and scrapes she had from a dozen short-lived fights. But even that pain felt good in a way, in this most total of triumphs.

"Wow." Alastor said, after she had finished. 'Quite the slaughterer, you are."

"Yes." she grinned.

"And you got them all?"

Lute hesitated...

"Lute? Did you get them all?"

"We... might have missed one or two..." she admitted after a long silence.

"Well, Adam HAS always been sloppy!"

She glared at him. "He has NOT. Besides, its not like it matters, they'll tear each other apart in the coming weeks anyway, and even if they don't, what are they gonna do? Rise again? If they dare, they'll send worse than us next time... slaughtered or not, bad people still go there when they die."

"Adam wasn't that deadset on killing literally every single little thing, just Charlie and all her friends... Oh, and Lucifer."

"Yes, I remember seeing you and your sisters tearing his body apart afterwards... with blade and claws. I never liked the Prince of Pride, but still, that was a terrible way to go."

"He deserved it." she stated without a touch of remorse. "What happened to you and thousands of other mortal souls that end up as Sinners, was his fault."

The tea had cooled enough, and Lute took a sip. It was good! For something made by a filthy demon, at least...

"Ah yes, my mother took me to Church when I was young, I've heard the stories. How Lucifer meant to usurp heaven, and become dominant above all, but was cast down for his arrogance... and now rules a kingdom of damnation."

"Yes well, he can rule the earth, and the worms can found a kingdom in his bones..." she hissed, fist clenching. "I would have done it again... he almost killed Adam. I don't want to think what could have happened if I hadn't gotten there when I did."

She sipped her tea again as the Radio Demon mulled that over.

"True love makes one do great and terrible things..." Alastor said, nodding solemnly. "I should know..."

"Hey," he said, looking out the window. "It is a very bright and shiny day outside. Would you mind touring me around the garden? Its quite pretty."

Lute raised an eyebrow, but taking a final sip or her tea, she nodded.

"If you want... I guess?" she said, standing.

They entered the Garden, past shrubs made to look like Michael and a fountain/statue of himself naked (save for a fig leaf) to a little gazebo, where Alastor finished his tea, and looked around.

"Reminds me of Southern Lousiana in Summer..." he sighed. "Green as far as the eye can see..."

It was truly a beautiful day, as all days were beautiful in heaven. A deer and her foal walked out from a thicket and began to drink from the pond that the fountain/statue was built into.

Lute smiled mischievously as she gave Alastor a side eye.

"Do you wanna eat some of the grass?" she asked, with a smirk. "Lil deer man wants some nice fresh lemongrass? Hmmmm?"

His smile twitched and she could see him repress a groan. "The deer similarities are purely cosmetic my dear." he said, composing himself. "I don't eat grass. I eat flesh."

"Ah come on, you need a balanced diet..." she teased.

"I will endure you fawning over my tail, I will allow you to scratch behind my ears, but I will NOT crawl on the ground and eat grass. I will draw the line somewhere."

She shrugged. "Have it your way!"

Lute stood and walked into the clearing.

"What are you doing?" Alastor asked.

Without answering, she wrenched up a few handfuls of grass and then flapped with her wings over to his side. Then, with the bundle of grass in her palm, she offered it to him.

"What if you ate it out of the palm of my hand, hm? Is that dignified enough for you?"

Alastor narrowed his eyes, and looked at the offered greens.

Lute reached up and scratched behind his ear gently. "Come oooon..."

Alastor rolled his eyes, but bent his head, and delicately ate the grass from Lute's palm, careful not to bite her fingers with his sharp teeth.

She stifled a laugh and continued to scratch his ears. "Awwww... whos a good boy?"

"Don't push it..." he hissed.

This time, she did laugh.

Meanwhile...

Charlie was piling the last of the dirt on her father's grave, and at this point, the tears had dried up. She felt nothing. Not sad, or angry... just numb... it was like she experienced such emotional agony that her feelings themselves had receded into her, in hiding from the abuse.

Now that everyone was laid to rest, she began to walk, towards her burned and crushed home. As she entered the city, she noticed some movement. A few sinners still alive here and there, a couple hellborn like the imps and hellhounds looking around, cringing at the sky every time anything flew in front of the sun.

Seems the exorcists hadn't killed everyone... but they had killed most of them.

She saw Carmilla Carmine laying near the town square, face frozen in an anguished scream, staring at a blood-red sky. One arm had been hacked clean off, and she'd been stabbed in the chest and belly so many times that it was as if someone had emptied a shotgun into her, thrice. Her daughters were nearby, one dead, the other, still alive, was simply kneeling besides her mother and sister's bodies, holding their hands.

She saw Valentino gutted and impaled, his corpse hanging from the Vee's HQ building by a jagged, sharp spar of metal. He had been pinned through the heart with an angelic steel spear, and 2 jagged spars of metal went through his arms, lifting them spread eagle. His wings were pinned as well. He looked like a display at a natural science museum. She took a modicum of comfort in the fact that a couple of those who were killed actually had deserved to die.

But all wasn't bodies and death. She saw that the 2 other Vees, Velvette and Vox, were still alive. Vox's face was smashed and plasma dripped down his face like blood perpetually. He seemed to be in extreme pain, but he wasn't dead. He was leaning on Velvette, who supported him with her shoulder. She seemed mostly unscathed, besides a cut across the cheek.

It didn't seem that all was lost after all...

Charlie climbed a lightpole near the center of town, and balanced herself on the top.

Citizens of Hell, survivors of this Purge, as heir to the throne of hell, I am sad to tell you that my father, Lucifer, was murdered.."

A crowd had begun to gather, The surviving Carmine sister looking at her blankly, Vox's screen sputtering as he Velvette described what was happening, imps, hellhounds, and a small crowd of maybe 3 to 4 dozen sinners. This was probably what was left of her people... maybe she could find a few more in the rest of the city...

"This genocide that heaven has inflicted upon us... left us beaten, but not broken!"

Charlie mustered all the will in her, and spoke more conviction and confidence than she felt in truth.

"But don't give up! That doesn't mean we can't do better!"

Some more murmurs, scoffs, she saw Vox laugh, which morphed into a staticky approximation of a cough.

"We can think about redemption another day, but now, we need to pull together, if any of us want to survive!"

"The fuck does that mean, little royal tot?! We gonna make a bake sale? Practice hugging each other!?" Velvette jeered.

There were a few laughs, and Charlie suppressed her anger, and spoke clearly, and decisively.

"If you don't want any help from anyone, thats fine, but there's not much left for ANY of us! Its in everyone's best interests to work TOGETHER! We should start, by sending out parties to find survivors, and start putting shelters back together, and whoever is badly hurt, like Vox, should be tended to right away! We need to take care of one another to take care of ourselves!"

There was silence, then reluctant murmurs of agreement.

"What happened was terrible, thats true, but we won't let it define us! We can be better than we were yesterday... BUT NOT FOR THEM! WE CAN BE BETTER FOR OURSELVES! WE DON'T NEED THEIR VALIDATION! FUCK HEAVEN! FUCK THE EXORCISTS! WHOS WITH ME?!

There was silence, and then, slowly, they began to cheer...

She walked amongst them, and with how few were left, she took the time to speak to many of them

Over the hours, she shared sympathies and survivor stories with dozens of sinners, she comforted the shellshocked hellborn and said it would be ok, and for once, it seemed everyone really did need a hug, or a shoulder to cry on, or an ear to listen.

The collective trauma of the Great Purge had turned a bunch of go-lucky, proudly hedonist degenerates into a bunch of scared, sad people who just didn't want to die.

After all the immediate problems had been addressed and acknowledged, and things had calmed down a bit, she felt a tap on her shoulder

She turned around, saw Velvette was looking her up an down appraisingly.

"Alrighty little princess, I see you're serious about this. Seems like we've not got much of a choice but to put our trust in you... your little speech got the whole town together in one big, weepy bunch." she said, with a look of distaste.

"But you're gonna need help. Can't run all this bollocks by yourself, eh?"

Charlie smiled, touched. "You want to help me?"

"Ugh, don't get weird about it sweetheart, its not for you. You did right by Vox, and that means you're alright with me. You're gonna be the new big boss? I can dig that vibe." she smirked. "But you'll need a hype-girl. Every good leader's got a PR Department."

"Thats true..." Charlie replied, rubbing her chin and nodding. "I will need people to help manage all the little search parties and projects to put hell back together..."

Velvette thought it over. "Nobody knows how to get a mob behind something like an influencer. I'll have these tossers getting shit done in no time. Vox will need some time, Adam's little bitch roughed him up bad, but he's always bounced back. He can help keep the narrative firmly on YOUR side.

Velvette grinned, and extended a hand. "So, what do you say we get started... boss?"

Charlie took the hand and grinned. "Thought you'd never ask!"

Meanwhile...

Adam was flying down to his estate, after a long day of being awesome in downtown heaven. As he landed, he smelled a mouth-watering scent wafting from the open window.

Lute was making dinner, hell yea! He was starving!

He tossed the door open. "Honey I'm hoooome! Somethin' sure smells good!"

"Adam, we're in the kitchen!" her voice called from across the house.

The delicious smell got stronger as he went in, and when he got to the kitchen, his stomach growled.

"What is that smell, holy shit bitch, you're doing magic in here!"

He came in to find Alastor and Lute cooking together, the Radio Demon tossing heavily seasoned rice and meat and chopped up vegetables in one wide pan, as Lute did the same with another, to make enough for all 3 of them.

Alastor turned to him with his signature winning smile, and Lute was grinning to, a grin that was for once, devoid of cruel malice.

"I decided I would share my mother's lovely Jambalaya recipe with miss Lute, and we, well, she, insisted it should be ready for you when you got home."

"Yes sir! I thought mixing it up might be good!"

"Hey, anything that smells that good can't be bad babe, can't wait to try it!" Adam said, taking off his robe and helmet and getting comfy in a big T-Shirt and gym shorts.

He sat down at the dining table as Alastor served the delicious-smelling meal and Lute poured a large glass of wine for each of them.

It was seasoned rice, tender, moist pork and thick cuts of savory chicken mixed with chopped carrots, peas, and green onion stalks.

Everyone dug in, and Adam grinned. This was some of the best food he'd ever tasted.

"Holy shit dude, this is fucking amazing!"

Lute grinned as she took in a mouthful. "It IS really good! That chicken came out so juicy!"

Alastor had the grace to be modest. "Its Mother's recipe, not mine, but thank you!" he took a bite himself, and smiled with genuine happiness. If he closed his eyes, it was like being back home...

They ate for a long while just enjoying the food and not speaking, it was too good not to!

Finally, Adam remembered that he needed to stop eating this delicious food long enough to tell Alastor the good news

"So Al good news!" he said. "I think I got a lead on your mom!"

Lute smiled to herself as she noticed his tail start to wag.

"You did?! You found her?!"

"Hey, calm down Ally, I just think I found her name. I've gotta go confirm tomorrow, and arrange a time where she can meet us. Then you can finally get closure!"

"...can I go with her?" he asked after a long while.

Adam considered it, and Lute had to struggle to keep her face straight. After such a nice day, she was surprised to find that it hurt her feelings a bit to know Alastor would want to just leave... but it made sense, why wouldn't he want to spend the afterlife with the person he'd cared most about?

Uh... I don't know, you're still a sinner, but I might be able to do... something?"

He appeared distant and deep in thought as he considered the possibilities.

"I'll see about asking if its possible, how about that?"

Alastor nodded. "That would be most appreciated..." he took a long sip of wine and sighed. "A fine year. Whats the vintage?"

Adam grinned. "13th century France."

The Deerman raised an eyebrow and Adam laughed.

"Its heaven, dumbass! Here wine just reaches its peak flavor and stays there. Nothing rots or turns to vinegar!"

"Ah, yes..." Alastor felt silly. "Well, it is quite choice." he took another sip, and the other two did the same. All were in agreement, it was good. Floral and rich, with hints of cherry and spices. The warmth it sent through Alastor's extremities made him feel even more relaxed and comfortable.

"Hey, I got an idea!" Adam chimed, swallowing the last of his Jambalaya. "How about we go and roast some marshmellows by the fireplace? I've got stuff for smores!"

Alastor wasn't much of a fan of sweets, but maybe a smore wouldn't hurt...

Adam was halfway through his second smore and Lute was just finishing making hers.

Alastor took delicate bites of his own. His was dark chocolate, which helped to cut the overly sweet taste of the marshmallows.

Chewing noisily, Adam said, with his mouth full

"So... mmm... *munch munch* Alastor... *gulp, crunch crunch* you were like an Overlord or something?"

Alastor winced every time Adam smacked his lips. "Yes... I was called the Radio Demon, and I had a show where I would tell the news, take guests, share opinions...

Adam nodded, swallowing the last of his second smore and then grabbing marshmallows from the bag, woffing them down like they were chips as he poked at the fire.

Alastor leaned over to Lute. "Does he always eat so... disgustingly?"

She suppressed a giggle. "Yea, isn't it cute?"

Alastor winced as he noisily chewed a marshmallow. "Cute... I guess cute is... a word you could use to describe it..." maybe in some alternate universe, he would find gluttonously eating junk food "cute" as well...

"So what else did you do on your little radio show?" asked Adam as he tossed some more sticks on the flames.

"Well, sometimes I would broadcast the tortured screams of rival Overlords over the airwaves to send the fear of damnation into everyone in hell." he said nonchalantly, as if such a thing was the most normal activity in the world.

Adam nearly choked on a Marshmallow and Lute raised an eyebrow, then she smiled. "People were really scared of you? But you're so... skinny... and you have such cute little antlers..." she pointed at them for emphasis.

"If I didn't have this silly little collar on I would show you..." he said, with a dangerous glint in the eye.

Adam chimed in. "But didn't I beat you without you landing a single scratch on me?"

Alastor's dangerous look became an emberassed smile and he looked away.

"That was total luck." he said under his breath, and Adam gave his arm a playful punch.

"Sure it was bud!"

After dessert, Lute poured more wine, by then, Alastor was feeling rather tipsy. When he stood to stretch, he stood up too fast, and nearly fell, but Adam caught him and gave his back a gentle push.

"Easy there Al, didn't realize you were such a lightweight..."

"I am NOT a lightweight!" Alastor said, letting more emotion seep into his voice.

"Haha, I guess you've never had heavenly wine before huh? Its strong stuff." Lute said. A slight blush to her face was the only indication she was feeling anything at all, she still stood with grace.

Alastor was not wouldn't be shown up yet again! He was the Radio Demon, and he could take anything an angel could!

"Pour me another, and I'll show you! I'll be completely fine!"

Lute gave a half-grin and looked at Adam.

He nodded. "Alright, big man, we'll see!"

Alastor took the cup and drank, the delicious flavor now even more worth savoring in his inebriated state. Setting the cup down, empty, he felt suddenly quite loose and relaxed.

"This couch is very comfortable..." he said, sinking into it belly-down, his tail twitching happily.

"Someone scratch my ears, please...?" he asked. Quickly, Lute and Adam played Rock Paper Sissors over it. Lute won.

"Fuck!" Adam pouted. "Well I'm gonna pet his tail!"

Alastor didn't even raise a complaint at that, even though there was no way he hadn't heard them. Lute began to massage the inside of his ears, and Alastor purred with delight, kicking his feet gently as Adam drunkenly poked at his tail and giggled.

"That feels good... a little up... a little to the right... ah rightthererightthererightthere... oooo..." his tail shuddered and his leg did a cute little shaky thing.

"Who's a good boy?" Adam said, scratching the base of his back.

"I'm... a good boy..." he said under his breath, leaning into the touches. The gentle minstrations and comforting, drunken stupor slowly lulled Alastor into a deep, happy sleep.

With Alastor fast asleep on the couch, Adam and Lute decided now would be a good time to turn in.

"So..." Lute asked as they walked into the bedroom. "Whats the word in Heaven today, hows everyone taking the Purge?"

"They're calling it the 'Great Purge' actually, if you can believe it." Adam said, his face a smug self-satisfied expression. "They put Charlie back in charge of what remains of Hell, and from what I hear, shes been trying to put things back together.

"At least she knows her place now." Lute said flatly. She had no sympathy for that foolish little dreamer. Even after meeting Alastor, she knew that Charlie's father's actions had caused the chaos and suffering that lead to all of it in the first place.

The fact she stood by him at all was enough of an indication of her character, as far as she was concerned.

"Not to mention her filthy perversions..." she said with a grimace.

Adam shrugged. "Shame about Vaggie though. If only the bitch had wised up."

"She was always weak. You should have seen her fight. Even after training and working herself up for 6 months, I beat her down like it was nothing."

"Well, its not fair to compare almost anyone to you babe." Adam said. "You're even better at looking good than killing shit, and you are AMAZING at killing shit."

He always knew just way to say to make her blush. "Oh, come on sir... you give me too much credit..."

"You know Lute, it might just be the wine, but you look... woah..."

Her hands ran up Adam's body and started pulling at his clothes as his fingers came under her shirt, a hand squeezing one breast as his arm lowered her onto the mattress.

Lute gasped and fell against the bed and they began to kiss, drunkenly touching each other up.

"Deer boy will be asleep for a while..." Adam mumbled. "And its been too long..."

"Yes..." she responded breathlessly.

Those were the last coherent words said in the room for several hours.

Alastor's woke up on the floor, with late morning light spilling through the window

He must have rolled in his sleep. The wine bottle against his leg reminded him of last night. Heavenly wine was strong indeed, and of course, perfectly crafted. He didn't have a hangover. Hell, he barely even felt groggy.

He stood, slowly and leaning, letting his spine stretch and his his muscles loosen the stiffness of sleep

Where were Adam and Lute?

He snuck over to the bedroom door, put his ear against it, and heard nothing...

Well, if they were sleeping, he'd just open the door silently, and-

When he opened it, he saw them in bed, a lot more undressed than he would have ever wanted to see them

He blinked, and closed the door.

"Oh." he mumbled dumbly. Why wasn't he surprised?

They had still been asleep, snuggled up together.

Perhaps they wouldn't mind if he made breakfast?

He put on an apron, tied it up around his slender hips, and got to work.

He walked into the kitchen and put 2 eggs and 3 pieces of bacon on for himself... then adding another 2 helpings.

It really wouldn't be any trouble to make breakfast... especially not after how nice they had treated him.

He was, for lack of a better term, enslaved, or at the very least, confined under what some might call "cruel and unusual" punishment, but he wasn't dead... and most of his kind hadn't been that lucky. Besides... Adam was his only hope of seeing his Mom again. To Alastor, nothing in the world could have been more important.

So he could play the gracious housemate, as long as they continued to treat him with... well, not dignity, but certainly not wanton cruelty.

As the eggs cooked, he made coffee, and began to whistle the tune to "Oh Susanna", and as the bacon began to sizzle, he heard Adam and Lute waking up.

"Lute why the fuck does it smell like awesome in the kitchen if you're not in there?"

"I'm making breakfaaaaast!" Alastor called from the kitchen with a singhsongy tone.

Adam and Lute entered the room even groggier than him, despite having drank less.

Of course, he hadn't exercised as rigorously all night as they no doubt had...

Lute's wing feathers were all ruffled, and Adam's had bedhead, but they were both happy to see some hot coffee on the stove and eggs and bacon in the pan.

Lute seemed like she didn't know what to do with herself.

"The only time I haven't made breakfast was on my creation day, when Adam makes it for me..." she said.

"Awww, how romantic of a gesture!" Alastor cooed.

"Yea..." she said, with a shy smile. "Its sweet... he does burn the eggs though."

"NO, THOSE EGGS WERE WRONG."

"...How can eggs be wrong sir?"

"Fucking... because, because I said they were ok?!"

"...Sir you've burned the eggs the last 10 years in a row."

"NUH UH" he said. "The eggs just were too... burning-y..."

Alastor raised an eyebrow as he plated up the meal, and they all sat down at the table.

"So when we find your mom, what are you gonna tell her?" Lute asked as she sipped her coffee.

Alastor thought for a long while. "I would... apologize, explain what happened, and answer her questions, then I expect, we'd sit down and chat and laugh, like we used to do, so many years ago..."

He seemed distant as he thought back, remembering.

The way she would gently nudge at the corners of his mouth when he was sad, or angry, and whisper in his ear, in that playful way of hers.

"My little Alastor, I've told you! You're never fully dressed without a smile!"

Usually just her saying that was enough to get a grin out of him. She always said he had a smile that would light up a room.

He ran his tongue over his now shark-tooth sharp rows of teeth

Would that smile still be something she wanted to see, if instead of lighting up a room, it darkened it with dread, more often than not?

"Let her still love me..." he whispered under his breath.

"What was that?" Adam asked with a mouthful of eggs.

"N-Nothing."

Meanwhile, in Hell...

Charlie's council of remaining Overlords had assembled before her. A day of work had passed, and they'd laid ground back on the center of the Pentagram.

In the ruined hall of the Vees HQ, Charlie sat at the head of the table. On her right hand, Velvette sat, sending a final text before setting down her phone, on her left, Vox, who's screen was mostly patched enough, and no longer constantly leaking Plasma, sat, leaning on the table. He was still very weak from his encounter with Lute.

On the far end of the table, there was Odette, the surviving Carmine sister, who had compiled herself since her mother and sister's internments, and sat with dignity, despite her inner mourning.

To her side, Rosie, who had survived the Cannibal assaults, was seated, sipping tea. She had a gash across her cheek that exposed her razor-sharp cannibal teeth, and a scratch across one shoulder from an exorcist's clawed gauntlet, but was otherwise fine.

"Alright..." Charlie began. "We're all here because we can help each other." she started. "We have the resources and talents to come out of this, and rebuild. Velvette, you will manage the day to day of labor, keeping the people focused."

"Already on it." Velvette replied.

"Vox, you keep people's minds on track. Get TVs in shelters, and around the streets. Keep people hopeful that things will get better!"

"Szzzttounds good.." he said, voice still gitching.

"Odette, have teams salvage as much angelic steel as you can find from the purge. We'll stockpile it, in case the worst happens."

"Yes mam!" The last Carmine said.

"Rosie, the Hellborn will trust you. make sure they and Sinners are working together. Manage relations, make sure we don't start blaming each other."

"Sounds like a plan!" she nodded.

"Together, we're going to rebuild Hell... better than it ever was... and nothing like this... will EVER happen again." Charlie said. She had a new dream. And she wouldn't make her father's mistakes.

As they were leaving the meeting, Charlie, motioned to Vox. "Vox, come here, I need to speak to you alone for a moment."

"Me..?" he asked, confused. "Ok, whatsszzztt up?"

every time he glitched out his screen would fill with static.

She pulled him into a private office, and sat down in one chair, motioning for him to do the same.

"I need to discuss some ideas I have with you."

"I want to make Hell something new, something better than it was before." she said. "But for that, we need to change how this place operates. We need to change the priorities..."

Vox looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "Change-Ch-Change what prioritiettzzzz...?"

"We need to change the way sinners think. My dad let them longue around and descend into chaos unchecked, he let them explore whatever they wanted... but I don't want that."

Vox was confused. Hell was all about sinning all you wanted till you died... how could she want to change that?

"What issszz it you w-w-want?" he asked.

"I want your manipulation abilities to be used to make them want to work. Make them want monogamous relationships, make them want to settle differences without violence, discourage drugs and alcohol abuse... stuff like that.

Vox laughed in her face. "Hah HAH, HAzzzttTTTHHHA" *cough* zztt *cough*"

"Thatssszzt what hell-el-el is... if they don't do that, what elszztt will they do?!"

"They'll work, they'll prosper, and they'll do what they're told..." she said. "Or the Exorcists will come back..."

"They will?!" Vox was alarmed.

"No." Charlie said. "Not for 5 years at least... but they don't need to know that. We'll make them believe that if they don't do as they're told... Adam will return and finish the job. Disobedient sinners first."

The TV-headed Overlord smiled, despite himself. He had a feeling he might like this girl after all...

Charlie had her second meeting of the day with an Overlord. This one was new...

"So... I've started the drafts, and we're taking all the salvage from the battlefields. The Angelic steel adds up to quite a lot, to be honest. More than I expected." the orphaned Carmine said.

She handed her the count of the salvage.

"One more thing, You and your mom and sister made weapons, right?"

"Yes..." she said, becoming crestfallen at the mention of her dead family.

"I know its hard, but focus, please. Did you ever work on anything that could be used in... psychological warfare? Something to control or manipulate people?"

The arms dealer raised an eyebrow. "Why would you need that?"

"Because... I'm not going to be the same Queen of Hell as my father was King. I want to keep people from destroying themselves again... but I've learned the hard way that you can't trust people to be good on their own. Sometimes, you have to make them."

Her fist clenched unconsciously as she remembered all the people who she could have helped if she'd been more assertive, more powerful, more in-control... But she wouldn't make that mistake again.

The girl opposite her looked away, as if not sure how to take that. "Well..." she admitted after a few moments. "We were looking into something like that, but to reach into someone's head and... change things... is hard. Its bordering on Creation. That sort of magic is impossible for demons to wield... to even look into it, we'd need some kind of link to Heaven, a way to access their archives and find exactly... scientifically, how a soul works. Then, theoretically, we could manipulate it. But we'd need someone IN HEAVEN to give us the information. We'll have to think of somethi-

Charlie smiled.

"Leave that to me. Creation magic, right? I'll get everything I can."

"Wha- How?!" the young demoness asked, shocked.

"Don't worry about it, I've got it under control." she said, already summoning her power to contact a certain Seraphim...

VOX NEWS UPDATE

The Camera panned in to show Vox, screen still cracked in a few places, at a desk in a smart black suit, papers in his hands, with a serious expression on his face.

"Good evening Hell, its Vox, your voice for the truth. The ONLY Truth, straight from your Queen!"

At public screens on the street and communal housing TVs, in the barely rebuilt parts of Hell's residental areas, hundreds more survivors had been found and centralized, and put to work. Now, they watched the TV, minds going numb as the dark powers took hold.

"Now, tonight's top story: Exorcists. Why they attack, and how YOU can stay alive."

"Exorcists are creatures of heaven, right? Right!"

"As creatures from heaven, they can sense sin, and your degenerate desires. They KNOW you cheat on your girlfriend, they KNOW you do drugs off some tight hooker's ass, they KNOW you'd sell your asshole for crack all week, and they HATE you for it.

Fact! A demon becomes 20% more likely to be targetted by an Exorcist for every sin they commit during a day!

How many did you commit in the last day? Hmmm? How many in the last HOUR? Can you really afford to be doing that? Can your loved ones? Of course not! But urges are hard to control, I know... but don't worry! Your benevolent Queen Charlie has a way to help! Our fearless leader has stepped out from her fallen father's shadow, and is offering all of you a chance! On the grounds of what once was the Hazbin Hotel, we are building the Happy Hospital! In this place, we'll force all those nasty little desires out of your head, no matter how much it hurts!

"If you find yourself needed to sin..." he said. "VISIT US. TODAY."

Sinners began to mutter worriedly amongst each other, some with hope, some with fear, all were nodding and taking it seriously though.

The Hellborn, however, scoffed. Hell was home. Debauchery? Excess? Sin? That was life... Queen or not, they'd be the way they always were. Tradition meant something... Exorcists be damned!

"I just don't know Charlie..." Emily and her were communicating through a small portal that the Seraphim had opened, just big enough for her head to fit through, "You need Scrolls of Creation and books that detail the reality of the human soul? I don't know if I can get that for you, what do you even need it for?"

Charlie put on a kind smile, and reached through the portal, taking Emily's hand.

"I have a new dream Emily. I need to be able to manipulate what is wrong with a soul. I need to know how to make people better!"

"You... still believe in redemption?"

"Of course... of course Emily!" she said. There was a voice in the back of her head that protested lying to Emily. She was so kind and trusting, she'd believed in Charlie right from the start. Reminded her of herself, before...

But no. She couldn't be weak or soft. Couldn't sacrifice what she needed for the feelings of a friend. Someone had to make the hard choices. Someone had to be the monster to protect people.

"As long as you still believe in me..."

Charlie reached through the portal and touched Emily's face. "You still believe in me don't you? That what I'm trying to do is good?"

Charlie's pale hand traced down her perfect, angelic face, coming to rest on her chin.

The seraphim's face grew hot with blush and she stuttered and looked away.

"Y-yes! You know I do, I have since the moment I heard it! I-I know you're what Hell needs to make people's lives better!"

"So why won't you help me...?"

Emily looked at her, and set her face in a hard expression of determination. "I-I will. I'll do it. I'll get you those writings. I know you'll use them, well."

Charlie smiled. "I knew I could count on you Emily."

"W-Wait...!" Emily reached out and touched Charlie's hand, holding it. "Can we talk again soon?"

Charlie smiled warmly, and silently, begged Vaggie to forgive her for what she would do.

"Of course..."

(a week later, heaven)

Adam had been chasing loose ends trying to find Alastor's mom for the better part of a week now, it was getting ridiculous. He had the name, and had asked around a lot, but "random woman's name, Lousiana, 1930s" isn't a lot to go on... and its not like he could bring Alastor along and have him just look around heaven, Sera already was annoyed enough at him for having a sinner in his private heavenly abode anyway, to let him leave would be VERY poorly recieved... and from what he was hearing, he didn't want to be giving Alastor back any time soon.

Charlie Morningstar, to Adam's surprise, had put the pieces of hell back together pretty well... however, there had been disturbing reports of unrest and fights between Hellborn and Sinners... apparently she'd started to discourage, and even to punish actively sinful behavior. IN HELL!

Its like she didn't know these fuckers were down there for a reason. People don't just get better, even if you force them...

Adam looked at his watch. "OH FUCK!" he screamed, right in the middle of the Street of Gold, getting him several rude looks

"Haha, sorry!" he played it off and then flew away like a streak of golden light. He was late for lunch with Michael! For some reason, the archangel had invited him out... Michael never invited anyone, anywhere, for any reason. One thing you learned about "Big Mike" as Adam playfully nicknamed him, was that he was possibly the only person in heaven not constantly having a good time.

He was brooding and never smiled, his short blonde curls always hanging in his eyes and his jaw set, clenched, as if anticipating a battle that never came. Talk about lame company for lunch...

He made it to the perfect little coffee shop on the corner, and took a seat at one of the outside tables where was already waiting for him.

This guy was scary, at all times, even to Adam.

Michael, Archangel of Battle, Master of the Armies of the Faithsworn, First Warrior of Light, Master of Holy War, was seated standing stock straight. His short curly hair hung in a mess around his eyes, his hulking, terrifyingly muscular frame was concealed by thick, golden plated armor, filigreed with crosses and skulls and angelic sigils. Adam had never seen the Archangel wear anything but armor. He only knew what his body looked like because of depictions in the books in Heaven's libraries.

His wings were folded behind him, and shone brilliantly in the heavenly sunlight.

Michael's wings were unlike that of other angels, where most had brilliant bright colors and feathers soft as silk, or spiritual wings of ethereal energy, the Archangel of War had steel.

His wings shone like the finest steel ever forged, shimmering with folding patterns, as if hammered from some mighty forge. Every feather, perfectly alike to true steel in every way, was sharpened to a level beyond a mere mortal razor. These bladed wings could cut people to ribbons in a single beat.

"Big Mike! My main man, Big M, haha!" Adam sat down, a full head shorter than Michael.

The Archangel glared daggers at him with his eyes, a dark, dark blue, almost purple.

"How many times must I ask you not to call me that?" he hissed.

"Ah come oooooon, we're friends right Mikey?"

His fist clenched so hard that he could hear the metal of his gauntlet begin to buckle.

"O-Ok sorry Michael, sorry! I mean you invited me over here in the first place, the fuck do you want from me? This is just how I am my man!"

Michael sucked in a breath, and let it out, trying to relax.

"Fine. Anyway, I believe there's something we both agree on that you could help me with..."

"Oh? Whats that?"

"There is a meeting coming up."

"Aw come on man I fuckin' hate those they're so boring..."

"THIS IS IMPORTANT. Look... there is unrest in hell."

"Wha- AGAIN? What the fuck is going on this time?!"

"The degenerates..." he spat each word like it tasted foul. "are fighting. Charlie, that half-bred demon-mortal girl is struggling to rule..."

"Struggling how? WAITER, COFFEE, YEA, CREAM AND SUGAR, OH, AND A DOUGHNUT! MAKE IT FAST!"

Michael gritted his teeth and endured Adam's impropriety

"Ugh... the politics of the damned... from what I have gathered, our sources say that Charlie's new reforms to Hell are being taken... poorly, by the Hellborn.

"So like... what does that mean?"

"There's rioting, and an actual counter-group. Zestial, the eldest of the surviving Overlords, is a firm traditionalist... he thinks Hell should be let be, as it has always been. The foolish Morningstar girl wants sinners to act as saints even in hell... they could not be further at ends..."

"Hell is on the brink of civil war, Adam, and Sera... at the behest of Emily, is calling a vote on weather or not we move to support Charlie."

"Why the fuck do we care?" Adam asked. "I mean, its not like they can do anything to us..."

"No, but Heaven is still panicked about Hell's attempted revolt against us. The blessed feel threatened, and are calling for action.

"Charlie's reforms, some, Emily, primarily..." he said with audible distaste "believe could allow for potential soul redemption..."

"Oh fuck, are they still on that?"

"Yes. Some feel your actions were... excessive." Michael said.

"I know you don't think so!" Adam said, fishing for a compliment.

"Oh no, on the contrary..." Michael started.

"Oh yea, here it comes..." Adam closed his eyes and waited for the Archangel of War to admit he did a good job...

"You were fucking sloppy. The fact one still remains makes me hate you even more."

Adam looked crestfallen. Damn it...

Then his coffee and doughnut arrived. "YAY!"

Adam munched on his doughtnut while Michael looked at him in open disgust

"Look... what I need is your support. I want you to vote for my side, and obliterate hell, once and for all..."

"Uhhhh... well..." Adam thought about it. Alastor was his lil buddy now, no way he wanted to go back, and even he did, Adam wouldn't let him. He didn't want Charlie doing anything... her plan sounded stupid... was there a down side to this?

"Ok, I'll do it... on one condition." he said, acting like it was a hard decision.

"Wha- CONDITION?! This is HELL we're talking about. Hell we can DESTROY! What could possibly be more important?!"

"Well nothing, sure, but come on My main M, if I do something for you, you can do something for me, right?"

"What do you want..." he growled

"I wanna find one of the blessed, a woman, she was born around 1899, would have lived in New Orleans... some place in that... Armika continent or whatever it was... had a son named Alastor?"

Michael's eyes narrowed. "I can find any mortal... but why? Why do you care about some lady from the early 20th century?"

Adam shrugged. "Thats my business. Will you find her for me, or not?"

Michael sighed deeply.

"Fine. I'll find her. AFTER you vote for me in the council meeting."

Adam shrugged. Angels were paragons to such an extent it was almost annoying. He knew the Warmaster would keep his word.

"Fine by me. So when is this meeting?"

"Tomorrow morning. Remember. Vote for annihilation. Complete and Total."

Adam nodded. "Sure thing big guy!"

As he started to fly away, Michael appeared before him, faster than he could have reacted to even if he'd wanted to.

"And Adam..." he grabbed the First Man by the shirt and hauled him so close that Adam could smell his breath. It smelled like iron and gunsmoke...

"If that fucking THING you're keeping as a pet ever leaves that hedonistic little shitheap you call a "paradise..." I will cast you into Hell myself."

Adam winced. "R-Right! Haha... got it..."

Adam returned home a little after his tense meeting with Adam.

Entering the mansion, he found Lute by the door in an oversized t-shirt, shorts, and an apron. He grabbed her close, giving her a sloppy kiss before stepping back with a "Mwuah!" and seeing Alastor staring at them from across the hall, an amused grin on his face. He was wearing a red sweater and red sweatpants. Didn't like to show skin at all, he'd noticed.

"Hey Ally! How was your day?"

Lute answered for him. "It was good sir! I've been showing Alastor the garden and I let him go hunting in the woods. Hes gonna cook us deer for dinner!"

Did that count as cannibalism? Hm. Well, deer was deer, and deer was tasty!

"Sweet! Wait, hunting? You gave him a weapon?"

"Pffff, what do you think I am, stupid? Nah... he just chased the deer through the woods and killed it with his teeth..."

Alastor shot him a grin as he went back into the kitchen.

"With his teeth...?" Adam asked.

"Uh yea..." Lute laughed nervously and shrugged. "Went a little native out there, it was freaky. Hes usually so docile around us."

"Well yea, now he is." Adam said.

So whats up?" Lute asked. "What did Michael want?"

"Well, its a long story, but starting tomorrow, we should know where Alastor's mom is finally..."

Alastor leaned around the corner, eyes wide with excitement.

"Really?"

...Had he been listening the whole time?

"Uh, yep! Finally got a solid lead. A uh... friend of mine is gonna do some digging, and we'll be able to find her by tomorrow afternoon! Promise!

Alastor began to hum an excited, happy tune as he cooked, and Adam looked at Lute. "Shit is going down, down below babe."

Like how?" Lute asked, concern edging her tone.

Adam sighed. "Its getting crazy down there..."

They were sitting down to dinner, deer steak, vegetables roasted in Cajun spices and mashed potatoes was the meal.

Adam was getting used to Alastor's delicious cooking skills, and he'd shown Lute a few things too! He was a lucky man... perfect woman, best friends with a creepy deer man, he lived in heaven, and every day was a new day to be happy about it...

"So, Alastor, Charlie's been going wild down there you know. Shes trying to... get this, haha, shes trying to make it so sinners don't sin! In Hell!

Alastor was shocked, and stared with a wide eyed, speechless grin for a moment. "Shes STILL trying to make people be redeemed?" he said, shocked. "Even after what happened?"

Adam opened his mouth to speak but stopped, thinking about what he would say. He chewed a juicy bite of venision, and furrowed his eyebrows.

"Well actually now that you mention it, everyone kinda thinks that, but she hasn't really been talking about redemption. The way its worded, it almost sounds like she wants..."

he thought it over, took another bite, then shrugged.

"I dunno... control or something? Like, she wants power. Shes using the other Overlords to rebuild and refocus hell after all our destruction... great job with that by the way babe-"

Lute beamed and had the grace to blush. "Thank you sir! It was nothing..."

Alastor, who'd heard the account of her slaughter firsthand, raised an eyebrow.

Lute was constant intensity and violent potential at all times... until Adam entered a room.

Something about him just made her go from a violent slaughterer of sinners to a stuttering, eager-to-please, loving little sycophant.

He'd never been in love before, but a supportive voice always complimenting and fawning over you would be nice. Eh. Not worth the effort though.

"Anyway..." Adam continued, chewing food as he spoke. "They're gonna call a meeting tomorrow about the situation... Michael is on the warpath, Emily wants to save everyone..." he shrugged. "Same ol' same ol'."

For once, Alastor said nothing as they were eating, completely silent for an uncomfortable amount of time.

"So the uh, the food is good!" Adam said. "Really tasty deer meat haha"

"Its called Venison..." Alastor said flatly. He ate almost robotically, as if he was playing out a pre-set animation.

"Uh... you ok bud?"

Alastor didn't look at him, simply continued to stare into his plate...

New Orleans. 1925.

Alastor opened his front door, but leaned back and looked over his shoulder. "Goodbye mother! I'm going out on the town! Don't stay up for me, I'll be out late!"

"Who are you going with sweetie?"

"Just some of the guys from the Radio studio! We're going for drinks!"

"Haha, okay sweetie! Be careful, and have fun. I love you!"

"Love you too mother!" he smiled and gave a final cheery wave before heading out the door.

He got into his Jowett and took off for downtown.

The British import had been pricey, but it had a certain gentleman's quality that he admired, and was relatively cheap, at least across the pond.

As he turned onto Storyville, he felt a pang of guilt for lying to mother.

But she couldn't know why he was going out tonight. Her poor heart couldn't take anything carnally violent or intense. She was getting older, after all, and he wanted to spare her the horrors of what he must do.

Oh, officially, of course, whoring had been outlawed in '17, but there were still ways.

The "boys in blue" were some of the underground "bars" best customers, after all...

Proud as you please, wealthy men and lucky gamblers, workmen and widowers, any and all, would go to these dins of debauchery and partake in flesh until the sun went up.

Not today. Today he would start making a statement.

He saw him stumbling down the street, bottle in hand. Some drunkard in a stained blue suit, with lipstick smeared on his neck.

Alastor pulled up next to him, summoning his courage. Here goes. "Need a ride friend?" he asked, smiling his signature grin.

The drunkard smiled and nodded. "Sure do bud!" he slurred, stumbling over to Alastor's truck and getting in.

The young man struggled not to lose his temper as the adulterous bastard sat down in his passenger seat and spilled some of his liquor on Alastor's upholstery.

"Haha, oops, sorry 'bout that, just a lil tipsy s'all..."

"Haha, right, right..." Alastor began to drive.

"Yea its just up here..." he grumbled, barely conscious now that he was seated.

"Take a... a left... and then a right... and then left... and then all the way down... and.."

He lapsed out of conciousness as Alastor ignored his unhelpful directions and drove out of town.

Once out of downtown, he took an offroad and began to drive into the woods.

After an hour of driving, he stopped the car, well and truly in the middle of nowhere.

Alastor drew the knife from his glove box, but at that moment, the drunkard woke up.

Sobered slightly from the nap, he blinked in confusion.

"Hey... why are we in the woods...?" he said, the tone in his voice having a hint of fear.

This was it. Now. Now. He had to do it now. NOW!

Alastor gritted his teeth. One thrust, thats all it would take, one thrust.

He'd been so busy psyching himself up that he'd taken a second too long.

He met the drunk man's eyes, and watch as he looked at Alastor's blank face, the knife, his face, the knife, and then his eyes went wide as dinner plates.

Alastor thrust, and he caught the knife, screaming.

He was strong, but he was drunk and his fingers were clumsy, his hands slipped and the knife blade cut a finger, he screeched and recoiled, giving Al an opening.

He jabbed hard, and the man screamed as Alastor stabbed, not in-between the ribs, as he'd wanted originally, but into his gut.

It was all a blur after that. He was screaming, tears were streaming down his face, tears of red and tears of crystal, as he stabbed and stabbed and stabbed until the man had more holes in him than a sea sponge.

Alastor got out of his car. He stood there for a long while, staring at the stars.

Finally, the knife fell from limp fingers. He looked into the sky... and for some reason... he began to laugh.

"Alastor?"

Lute's concerned voice snapped him out of the world of memory and he looked up. "Excuse me?"

"You ok? You kinda spaced out there..."

"Oh, yes, yes I'm fine I was just... remembering."

"Remembering what?"

"...thats not important, I just... I worry about what mother will think of me. Will she still love me after I tell her what I've done?"

Adam and Lute were silent for a long moment.

"Well shes your mom, dude." Adam said, shrugging away the worry like it was silly. "I mean, how could she not love you? You're her son."

"I've done some terrible things... and I don't want to just pretend I didn't, just in case it puts something between us. I have to tell her how and why I died, she deserves the truth."

Lute reached over and took his hand.

"I'm sure she'll understand Alastor. I mean, it was for her, right?"

He looked away.

"No. I didn't do it for her. Thats just... what I told myself."

"But then why-" she began but he cut her off, as if he was speaking more to himself than to her or Adam.

"I did it for me. I enjoyed it... I liked... hurting, killing, enforcing my will onto others. I always have liked doing it. No matter how noble the reasoning was, it was just a pretense... a way for me not to confront my actions."

They both said nothing at that. Lute and Adam both were struggling to understand what he'd just said. A sinner had... admitted fault. That showed change...

Alastor didn't seem to notice as they questioned themselves and their whole worldview.

"I killed those people because I was... derranged. I was in a very, very bad place, and I started killing, and once I started..."

He laughed humorlessly.

"Why stop?"

The Radio Demon finished his dinner, and stood up, took his plate to the sink, beginning to wash dishes as Adam and Lute got up and silently went to the bathroom to get ready for bed.

"Lute...? I think Alastor regrets what he did."

"...Yeah."

"Does that mean that sinners really can change?"

"I don't know sir."

"Because... if it does... th-then what have we done? What have I done?!" Adam's voice wavered as he began to question everything he believed.

Lute hugged him and pulled his head close. "Calm down, look at me Adam. Look at me!"

He did. "Alastor isn't like every other demon." she said. "Most... the vast majority I'm sure, if not all, of the demons we've killed, would never have changed..." she said.

"H-How can you be SURE of that?" Adam asked, needing reassurance.

"Because..." Lute answered. "Look at them now..."

Meanwhile, in Hell...

Charlie tried her best to stay calm as Velvette read her latest report

"So, We've got 12 deaths, 37 injuries, 15 Angelic weapons stolen, and a bunch of the screens around town have been smashed... the Traditionalists are fucking around, stealing supplies and breaking stuff, and if anyone gets in the way, the just bloody kill 'em."

Hell's new Queen clenched her fist in irritation, looking up at Rosie who sat looking uncomfortable at the far side of the table.

"Rosie, I want to know why this is happening. I told you to keep the Hellborn in line. What I'm trying to do here... its the only way to ensure that we put ourselves back together. This is the ONLY way Hell survives!"

The cannibal matriarch raised her hands exasperatedly

"Look sweetie, I'm sorry! Really I'm tryin', but these Hellborn ain't like sinners, really! They never known anything but sin, lived in Hell their whole damned lives, and done whatever they wanted or needed whenever they felt like it! They ain't just gonna change because you say so."

Charlie set her mouth in a hard line and gave her a look of warning. "If you can't handle it.. I'll find another who can."

Rosie looked hurt, genuinely, and looked down, not meeting Charlie's gaze.

"Ya know Charlie... I don't like where this is goin' with you. You used to be the sunshiniest girl in all'a hell... what happened to that? Don't you think you should let them choose whats best for them? I mean take the Hellborn, this is just how they are, Nothin' changes that!"

Lucifer's heir looked at her with pure contempt. "That girl is dead."

Velvette crossed her arms and scoffed. "Charlie is making changes and trying to do something new. Lucifer was played out, a bloody relic! This sort of control is exactly what we need. Get your act together, corpse eating old bitch... or I'll start having Hellborn killed on sight."

Rosie clenched her teeth with rage, stood, and walked out of the room with her dignity.

There was a tense silence in the meeting chamber for several long moments

"So like... can she just leave?" Vox asked after the door had slammed.

He was fully healed now, and despite some dead pixels on his screen, there was no sign of the previous damage.

Charlie sighed. "Let her go. I'll talk to her later."

The rest of the meeting passed by in a blur. Odette said that the Angelic weapons at this point had been almost all recovered, and the few people who lived in Hell still had all been armed for their own safety, the ones who were fully on board with her repentant agenda, anyway, and Vox's surveillance network was, luckily, reporting that sinner's had been better behaved recently, and work was going rather well. The rate of new souls entering Hell was steady, and when they did, surveillance reports indicated that over half at least attempted to follow Charlie's new rules, seemingly out of some desperate hope they could repent even after time was already out...

When they weren't attacked by angry mobs of imps, hellhounds, and other creatures who had never known true mortality, Hell's new citizens had been a rather wholesome bunch... but it still wasn't enough for her.

"Vox, I want you to start making propaganda targetting the Hellborn. Every problem we have right now is their fault, and everyone deserves to know that."

Vox hesitatd. "Are you sure that a good idea-"

Velvette spoke up after having been quiet for a while.

"Come on Vox. I mean, its their fault, literally, yeah?"

"Well yes but-"

"Then fucking tell the plebs! Bloody hell..."

Vox gave a sort of resigned shrug. "Alright... hope this doesn't fucking backfire..."

Charlie concluded the meeting made her way to her office in the HQ, exasperated and tired.

It wasn't until she'd gotten to the desk and sat down did she realize Velvette had followed her.

"You ok princess?" she asked, leaning in the doorframe. "You were getting pretty snippy in there..."

Charlie held her head in her hands and wished so badly that Vaggie was there. She just wanted someone to listen and tell her she was going to be ok... the pressure was starting to get to her.

"I just don't understand why some people can't see that sinning constantly, just for fun, is wrong! Like, I get killing someone hurts you, I-I understand wanting to have sex, drink and do drugs, but look at what its done to us, to our people... it causes the suffering in Hell!"

She hadn't been paying attention, so when Velvette's hands came down on her shoulders, she jumped, but then relaxed.

"I just need people to listen... this IS what will be best for everyone, it will make things better... but the Hellborn and sinners have to listen, they have to trust me!"

The Overlord began to massage at Charlie's shoulders, and she leaned into it. That felt nice... she had never felt this tense.

"I know Charlie, I think its probably whats for the best too, even if I don't really care about those fuckers down there that much. Stability is profit, and profit is power." she said with a little smirk.

"But I think you'll figure it out..." she leaned down and looked Charlie in the eyes. "And the Vees are with you. Well, the two left, anyhow."

Charlie's heartbeat quickened a bit as she stared into Velvette's dark, mischievous eyes. It had been a while since Vaggie's death and since then she hadn't thought about any carnal desire once... but now she could feel her heartbeat quickening.

They stared at each other for a few seconds.

Velvette leaned just a little bit closer. Charlie's breath caught. It felt like too soon but... she just wanted to be held again, to be supported. Everything was crashing down around her and everyone she loved was gone... would this really matter?

Fuck it.

She craned her neck upward as Velvette leaned down, standing over her from behind as she was seated in her office chair.

Their lips met and as they explored each other's mouthes tentatively, Charlie felt her heart hammer against her chest faster. It felt so good to be wanted...

After a moment Charlie wanted over right away, and at the same time wished could last for hours, she pulled away.

"I-I'm sorry I... I don't know what came over me... I should have done that."

Oh bollocks sweetheart." Velvette dismissed it with a little wave.

"I'm the one who kissed you anyhow."

"Y-Yes but... we shouldn't. Its... its so wrong for so many reasons..."

Velvette gave a simple shrug and stepped away from her with that smug little half-smile.

"It doesn't have to be any more than a kiss, Princess."

"I..." she struggled to ask the question. To look vulnerable... what if it backfired? Could she really TRUST Velvette? Could she trust herself? Could she afford to be attached to someone again...? What if something happened? What if it was her fault...

"...You...?" the shirt, ochre-skinned Overlord woman gave her a playfully confused look.

"W-Would you just hold me... please?"

Velvette came back over and hugged her, pressing Charlie's face into her chest and holding her there.

There were several moments of silence, before Charlie began to weep, silently sobbing into the Vee's chest and turning her breast warm and wet with tears.

Velvette let her cry, petting her hair gently and soothing her with soft shushes. "It'll be ok girl... you're going to get over this setback, and I'm going to help you, ok?"

Charlie looked up at her, confused but grateful. "Why..? Why do you have faith in me?"

The fashionista hesitated, thinking for a moment, how to put it into words...

"I like new ideas... I'm a trendsetter." she said after a while. "Put it simply, you're right. Hell's been a right fuckin' mess under your old man. I think you can do it better, and I wanna be a part of it."

Charlie continued to hug her for a long, long time, and the girl gave no complaint.

"Thank you..." she finally said, almost to quiet to hear.

"No, thank you." the Overlord replied.

"For what..?"

Stepping up, when no one else would."

Meanwhile, at the Goetic Prince's Manor...

In the banquet hall of Stolas' manor, sat the co-conspirators.

Zestial, Eldest of Overlords and leader of the movement, sat at the head of the ornate dining table

Stolas, lead sponsor of the Traditionalist movement and Prince of the Goetia, sat across from him.

To one side, 3 imps and a hellhound sat, clearly slightly nervous amongst such powerful company...

To the other side, there was Rosie, the Cannibal Matriarch, and conspiratorially, also a member of the "false-queen's" ruling council.

"Mmmmnnn, is everyone clear on the plan then?" Stolas intoned in his usual high, aristocratic accent.

Everyone nodded, and the imp with the longest horns raised a hand

"Actually, heheh, um, could we go over it one more time, MOXXIE here wasn't listening."

"Sir I heard them-"

"Of course Blitzie Baby!" Stolas replied in a lilting, all-together inappropriate tone. "Zestial, my good man, if you would be so kind?"

"Yes. Thine plan is simple. We shall send as many Hellborn as we can to riot outside of the Vee's headquarters when thy False-Queen is meeting her subordianates. Once this is done, she and her associates will have no choice but to try and defend thineselves. In the confusion, Rosie here..."

Rosie smiled her sharktooth grin and waved cheerily at the little murderer trio.

"...shall split off from the others, and let these... Immediate Murder Professionals... ye have recommended enter the building, and in the madness, slay the False-Queen."

"This is CHARLIE MORNINGSTAR we're killing, right?" Blitzo asked, concern in his tone. "Shes like... literally the spawn of Lucifer, probably the most dangerous demon in all of Hell, we BETTER be getting paid good for this.

"For this act, ye will be ordianed de-facto overlords for life in our new Hellscape, ruled by the Overlords and Princes who were always meant to succeed Lucifer..."

"Yes yes!" Stolas said cheerily. "My little Blitzie will be a lower-class piteous little darling no longer!"

"Oh for the love of fuck Stolas..." Blitzo groaned, cringing at being emberassed like this in public..."

"But..." he said, grinning. "Thats a fuck of a payday, you've got yourself some killers!"

The one named Moxxie looked uncomfortable. "Sir I mean that sounds great and all but... this is gonna be"

"Moxie I swear to the heavens that fucking hate us if you don't shut the fuck up-" the imps left the table, and the rebel council sat in silence for a time.

"I really wish it didn't have to come to this..." Rosie said sadly, lowering her eyes. "But this girl's gonna cause all the Hellborn the worst kinda sufferin' imaginable. She was such a sweet thing at first, I honestly was glad to see her come back but, somethin' broke inside of her when she watched her friends and father die. Shes just... not the same person no more."

Stolas made a sad little humming sound. "Yes, it is regrettable, while I never made her acquaintance myself I heard what a kind and gentle, if not slightly mad soul she was. T'is a shame that she blames her people for her own failures..."

Zestial shrugged. "Youth and power alas doth not mix well. She has ascended to thy Throne of Damnation too soon, and too misbegotten. Hell is for the Debaucher. It is for the Hedonist, the Savage, the Killer. Thou amusement and enjoyment, free of Morality, this is our right, as the damned. "We shall not bow to the heaven-born's whims."

"So..." Stolas said, manifesting a bottle of wine and pouring himself a glass. "3 days, is it?"

The Ancient Spider-Demon nodded. "3 turns of the hell-born moon, on that last of nights... her reign shall end."

The I.M.P.s were in their room of Stolas' estate leaned over a table with the blueprint of the building on it.

"Alright, so Loona..." Blitzo began "...you're gonna sniff out the target once we get inside, and lead Moxxie and Millie to her. If all goes to plan, she should be knee-deep in an angry mob by then. You both distract and attack, while miss Rosie brings cannibals in to surround the target and her little friends." he grinned.

"What are you gonna do?" Moxxie asked, his tone snarky.

"I am so glad you asked, bitch!" he said, straightening his tie. "Yours truly will be getting in position in the shadows, all stealthy and shit, then I'll come out when shes nice and busy trying to survive you three, and FUCK her ASS dead!"

"Mhm..." Moxxie seemed unconvinced. "And how are you SURE you can kill demonic royalty?" he asked.

Stolas gave me THIS..." he pulled out a angelic steel knife, unearthly sharpness gleamed on its edge, its blade a shining white. "...to get the job done. Angelic steel."

They all stared in wonder at the weapon. "With a little swish of this baby, we'll all be set for life..." he said, savoring the idea.

"Well sir, its... a pretty good plan, I guess..."

Loona shrugged. "Yea I mean, probably. Better than most of what you come up with."

Millie nodded. "Yea! We'll get that little silver-spoon-sucker good an' dead! Then you and me... Moxxie... can retire... imagine it, a farmhouse in Wrath, some lil' ones runnin' around, no worries or troubles..."

Moxxie blushed as he imagined it. Yea, if this really went off well.. the rewards would be worth it. He'd be with his forever girl... forever. And nobody would ever look down on them again.

"And I'll come and visit every weekend, yea?" Blitzo said, winking. "Ah, what the helll, I'll just sleep in a treehouse in the backyard!"

Moxxie groaned as his boss ruined his happy fantasy. "PLEASE don't sir.."

"Ahhhh come on Mox, ya know ya love me." he said, grabbing the two of them in a group hug.

Going to her room, Loona met Octavia in the hallway. Her expression was downcast and she looked up at Loona with apprehension and worry.

Reading her face, Loona walked over. "So you're still freaked out?" she asked, ears perking in interest of what her friend had to say.

"I-I don't know. I just had a bad dream last night... I was somewhere at night, it was dark, and noisy, and there was lots of... weird shiny shapes. I was holding Dad's hand, and... he was running, I was with him, there was this burning light behind us... and I was scared... and sad. Dad was hurt, and something was wrong, but I couldn't remember what..."

"Dude, you had a dream. Dreams are dreams, it doesn't mean anything."

"My father is a star-reader... prophesy is in my blood." she said, almost as if it was embarrassing to admit.

"So what you, think this dream is some kind of like... Star-Prophesy thats telling you the future?"

The Goetia teenager made an annoyed huff and crossed her arms. "Well when you say it like that it sounds stupid..."

"Well I don't think you have anything to worry about." Loona said. "I mean even if the princess... or... queen of hell, whatever, did catch us, there's gonna be so many things attack her and everyone at once, what chance does she REALLY have?"

Octavia sighed. "Yea... I guess that makes sense."

"Yea, see? Look, my dad is a dumbfuck, for sure, but he knows how to kill stuff. He usually has no problems. Besides, even when stuff does go wrong, we always get out."

"Just... when you go out there to try to do this... be careful, ok?" Octavia said, giving her shoulder a playful punch.

"I have a hard enough time making friends, I can't be losing the ones I have."

Loona laughed. "Wanna go taxidermy our latest victim?"

"Fuck yea!" Octavia said, and they rushed off together.

Meanwhile, in Heaven...

Adam was in his seat in the council chambers of Heaven's assembly of angels and blessed. Lute sat next to him.

He watched as Michael and Emily took the stand, and steeled himself.

Though he'd had doubts recently, and wasn't sure all his actions had been justified, he had still promised to help his friend Ally, and damn it, that was what he would do.

Even if it meant voting to kill everyone in Hell...

Sera stood above them, at the top box alongside Gabriel, acting as co-judges.

Angels and blessed mortals!" Emily started introductions. "I am here to explain to you today, why we need to support and help Charlie Morningstar, and her efforts to make Hell a better place! She has a lot of potential in her ideas, she just needs some support after all thats happened!"

Michael spoke next.

"Heavenborn and Mortals alike, you know me. I am Michael, Archangel of War, and First Lieutenant of Heaven's Legions. I come to you today, to express how imperative it is that we destroy Hell, and shatter its people, once and for all!"

"You may begin." Gabriel intoned.

Emily started with her points.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I ask, a sinner dies, and their soul goes to hell, is it still not their soul? Is it still not capable of thought or feeling, of realizing, and wanting to fix its mistakes? Why can't we try to give them the credit to live better in Hell than they did on Earth, why can't we help Hell's new queen in bringing down sinful desires and actions?! This is what I'm asking! Why don't we TRY!?

Michael responded.

"And I ask, what did these people do to go to hell? How many of them did things that can never be fixed? How many assaulted innocent women and children, killed families, burned homes, destroyed lives? How many haven't even the CAPABILITY to understand what they're doing is evil? I would say most of them, if not all. Can we afford to let Heaven be threatened because some MIGHT one day do slightly better? I say no."