"-now remember," Charlie rushed as they entered the Hearing Room for the King of Hell. She was dressed in her royal regalia, her crown and trident sparkling in the light. "I'll try to give you soft ball questions to make you look good. My dad probably won't press too hard. I'm sure he'll be on our side! He knows we all love each other."
Vaggie sighed. There was Charlie's ever-flowing fount of optimism. Her dad hated Alastor. There was going to be zero give on the topic. Lucifer would be a 'hang him', Charlie would be a 'give him flowers for doing a great job'. Charlie had told her and Alastor that in the event of a split vote between herself and her dad, Paimon would have the deciding vote.
A wildcard right there. Charlie said she almost never saw Paimon. He was always busy running the high-tier Ars Goetia society. He also had to keep busy making heirs as assassinations were high in his family. He only had five children left from the last big event. Everything was painted red at that wedding once everything was done.
Vaggie did not have high hopes. The only hope she had was that the only punishment would be taking Alastor's Head of Hell status away. Charlie had waved the question off, saying her dad would NEVER sentence Alastor to death or anything that terrible. It did not bolster Vaggie's confidence when she was silent on Paimon's opinion.
"We shall see, my beautiful butterfly," Alastor murmured. He was staying close to Vaggie, the space between himself and Charlie not being obvious to most people.
A bright flash caught Vaggie's attention. She finally took her attention off of her loved ones and looked around.
It was an actual throne room. A big throne in the middle decorated with apples; a throne equal to its left covered in musical notes; and a throne to the right that was covered with outdated princess decorations that was obviously too small for Charlie. All around them was opulence: chandeliers made of some kind of rich red gemstone the lit up the room; windows with all sorts of scenes in them, including detailing Lucifer's fall from Heaven; servants and guards lined up all around them; and currently, a singular ivory table that had several plain wooden seats on one side and a single ivory chair in front of it.
"Uhm…" Charlie was staring at the chair that was meant for her with a small cringe. "Am I supposed to fit in that?"
"Nonsense, my dear! Allow me to correct this grievous error." Alastor snapped his claws. In place of the outdated throne there was now a large velvet chair. It had tassels, a small pillow, and clawed feet. Vaggie recognised it as one of the pieces of furniture that Alastor had that Charlie loved. As she expected, Charlie's eyes sparkled as she flopped into it.
"This is a great idea!" Charlie gushed.
"Have we arrived early? There's no one else here!" Alastor exclaimed. Vaggie looked at the guards and servants. It seemed they were used to being discounted.
"I wanted us to get prepared for everything! Just think, we can do a mock tria-"
"My apologies for interrupting your incoming song, but I must inform you that due to your appearance and the fact that all parties have arrived, we shall start the court proceedings early," an Imp that looked like he was in charge of the household said.
"What? WHAT?! " Charlie jumped out of her chair. "Ohmygosh, what do we do?!"
"Please, take your seats for the beginning of the hearing on the Head of Hell!" announced the Voice of Hell from the back of the room.
Several Ars Goetia entered then. Andrealphus was the last to enter, a small section of his beak missing as if it was chipped off. He glared daggers at Alastor as they sat on the other side of the table. Andrealphus took what Vaggie would say was the worst seat as the other Ars Goetia with him looked more like the kind of higher-tier that Charlie had talked about. One of them may even be a direct son of Paimon himself.
She recognised one of them as the Ars Goetia from the trial. His name was…Stolas? He looked rather dour.
Alastor had noticed too. He said to Stolas, "Et tu?"
Stolas sighed as he explained, "I'm here trying to get you a decent punishment. I'm hoping to limit it to losing your place as Head of Hell."
"And I'll be pushing for death!" Andrealphus declared. "A filthy low-born Sinner using our own magicks and transforming into one of us?! BLASPHEMY!"
"You've got a little something on your nose," Alastor said to Andrealphus. This made Andrealphus' beak click together in agitation, feathers ruffling in offence.
Before any more words could be exchanged between them, the Voice of Hell called out, "Please, give your attention to the Royal Family of Hell!" He said, "Firstly, the Crown Princess of Hell, Princess Charlotte Morningstar!"
Charlie gave an awkward wave from her plush chair.
"The One True King of Hell, King Lucifer Morningstar!"
Vaggie had to hold in a snort as he descended from the ceiling in a flashy display. Floating down, wings spread wide, he landed in front of his throne. Lucifer looked around confidently until he did a double-take at Charlie. He asked, "Uh, honey, what are you sitting on?"
"The most comfortable chair in Hell, of course!" Alastor replied from where he was sitting.
"Oh no no no !" Lucifer growled. "Not in my back!" He indicated to Charlie to stand up. After she got up, he waved his cane. In the place of the comfy chair was now the gaudiest, uncomfortable-looking chair in Hell. "Form over function!"
"Hahaha! And here I thought you loved your daughter!" Alastor snapped his fingers. Now it was the comfy chair with some delicate decorations on it.
As the Voice of Hell called something out, Lucifer snorted. "She's a princess. She deserves the best, not some old, dusty chair that could stab her in the back!" He slammed his cane into the ground. Now it was the gaudy chair with a single pillow on it.
"She deserves a chair she'll be happy with!" Vaggie wasn't sure when Alastor got up from the table, but now he was face-to-face with Lucifer.
" I'll take care of this." Vaggie's attention was drawn to the tall woman who had just entered the throne room. From where? She didn't know. She was wearing a black form-fitting dress with a slit and a pearl necklace with sunglasses blocking her eyes and a large, black crown fitting around her dual red horns. The woman lowered her sunglasses and blinked. Now the chair was a basic wooden thing with no decorations. She said in a deep, musical voice, "A nice, simple chair for a nice, simple girl."
Alastor, Lucifer, and Charlie all reacted to her. Charlie's eyes sparkled as she uttered in amazement, "Mom?". Lucifer took his hat off and exclaimed, "Apple!". Alastor…he retreated, ears flat with a giant fake smile on his face. He took his place at the table and settled his hands against the surface like a prisoner.
"Mom, I'm so happy to see -" Charlie was cut off by Lilith placing a finger against her lips.
"Sweetie, the adults need to talk now. Sit and be pretty, won't you?" she asked. Charlie complied excitedly, sitting in the regular old chair and staring at her mom like she was a returning hero.
"Apple," Lucifer repeated, "It's been a while, huh?"
"Yes, I suppose it has. 356 years, 7 months, and 5 days," Lilith said with venom.
"And 18 hours!" he added. "So, I-"
"I'm only here for the hearing," she cut him off.
"Right, right." Lucifer scratched his head. "Let's sit down then!"
Lilith complied and sat down. In Lucifer's chair.
"Uhhhhh…" Lucifer lifted a finger, mouth open and staring at Lilith. She crossed her legs, daring him to do something. After a moment, he smiled and said, "Whatever you want, Apple!" before sitting in the last chair.
"Now then," Lilith purred, looking at the table where the rest of them sat, "could someone please state the issue and the requested punishment?"
"We, the affected party, wish for a strong judgement!" one of the most ornate Goetia said, plumage similar to Alastor's. "The use of forbidden rituals to mimic our appearance is ghastly, as is the Head of Hell abusing their authority to learn our magic! We request death, or imprisonment no shorter than 1000 years."
"That is outrageous!" Stolas countered. "He had a legitimate need for regenerative magic. The wording of the ritual doesn't state why it is forbidden. The Head of Hell likely did not realise what it would do to him!"
"Hm." Lilith's gaze traveled over to Alastor. "What say you, Al ?"
Alastor's mouth looked like it was about to break - up or down, Vaggie didn't know - as he dutifully said, "Whatever is decided by the Royal Family is what is decreed!"
"Huh. Some actual wise words from the busboy!" Lucifer chuckled.
Vaggie was likely the only one that heard the scraping noise. She looked at Alastor to find his ears were back, feathers ruffled, with his second set of eyes fighting to close. His claws and fingers had dug deep into the ivory.
"Hey," she whispered to him. She slid her hand under the table to him, nudging him to take it. He quickly looked at her hand before deftly dropping his hands into his lap. Vaggie scooted closer to him so she could place her hand on his claws. "It's okay. No matter what, me and Char are here for you."
Alastor didn't react beyond a fraction of a centimetre nod, gaze entirely focused on Lilith. It was likely the only reaction she would get for now.
"Why did you bother us with such a trivial matter?" Lucifer asked. "I have important things to do!"
"What, depressingly craft little duckies?" Lilith snapped lightly.
Charlie started, "Uhm, maybe-"
"Shhhhh. Let the adults talk."
Vaggie was starting to get annoyed. Who was Lilith to say that sort of thing to Charlie? If it were proper, she would have simply beaten Lilith with the flat side of her spear. It was the wrong place, wrong time. Maybe when Charlie wasn't looking…
"My King, please, you must understand. The fact that this Sinner did this opens the door for others to abuse it!" the Ars Goetia explained.
"I don't see much of an issue. The Head of Hell can do whatever they want in relation to the Ars Goetia," Lilith noted.
"Such flagrant abuse needs some sort of punishment!" the Ars Goetia called for.
"Sorry, Apple, but I think he's right." Lucifer leaned forward. "The Head of Hell may not have to answer for their decisions, but at the same time they shouldn't abuse what they have." He clasped his hands together, pointing at Alastor. "What do you think, Radio Demon? Have you stretched your greedy claws too far?"
"That is not for me to judge," Alastor replied, a more neutral expression on his face.
Charlie and Lucifer both frowned. Of course Charlie would realise something was wrong. It would've been ludicrous if she hadn't. Lucifer was a surprise. He probably expected more of a fight.
Lilith was amused. As the Ars Goetia started on some of their points, the focus on them, Lilith watched Alastor. She subtly motioned with her hands a smile, pulling lightly at the corners of her lips. Alastor's claws clenched momentarily. Vaggie looked at Alastor and couldn't keep her eye from opening wide.
There was a large, fake smile on his face. And in the corners of his mouth were the vanishing traces of string, small bleeding spots dripping down his face.
