CHAPTER TWO

The Hazbin Hotel was back in business. The group had worked day and night, and with Alistor's return and power to bring forth demons of construction, it was not as long as they'd feared and the bright neon lights of the Hazbin Hotel sign lit up the night once again.

Charlie stood next to Vaggie looking up fondly with a new key in her hand, declaring it was going to be a fucking happy day in hell, being back in business. She was extra relieved because for the entire time it took to rebuild, she saw Angel and Vaggie getting along, working together, and she even swore she saw Vaggie laugh at something Angel had said.

She was tentative to be near Angel alone until they could tell their story, but in the few occasions it happened, she fondly remembered how Angel had protected her, taught her to embrace her inner demon and stoked power within her she didn't know she could wield. That Angel was in part a reason she became the powerful demon princess of hell, brought a tug of deep love from her heart for him, and so many memories. Charlie distracted her feelings by asking Angel about when he arrived in heaven, but he shook his head, telling her now was not the time, but he promised he'd tell her, someday. Charlie trusted him and let the subject drop.

Now, as the first night of the new hotel's lights shown bright over the 5 points of Hell, Charlie invited all her friends into the lobby. As they seated themselves with drinks and snacks, anticipating what they knew was going to be THE Story to rival all stories, Charlie motioned Angel to come stand by her side and Vaggie pulled up a large lounge chair, sitting on the edge. Lucifer had joined them for this, smiling at his daughter and Angel, supporting them.

"My friends. I told you before, but I want to reaffirm how much I love all of you. You stood by my side and fought for my dreams, even though not all of you believe it's possible to redeem a soul, you don't let that stop you from being the best friends any demon could dream of having. Thank you."

"Here! Here!" Shouted Cherry Bomb, "I may not be a part of this menagerie but fuck if the comradery isn't endearing!"

"You could be!" Charlie said encouragingly.

"Eh.. maybe" Cherry bomb gave her a friendly wink.

Smiling, Charlie continued, "It's why I wanted you all to hear the story. The story I need to tell Vaggie. Because I fucked up." She let her smile fade, "When I saw Angel, I was that frightened girl trapped on Earth so long ago…"

"WHAT!?" Vaggie leaped forward in her chair, eye wide as hell, her wings extending in full spread, and the others gasped in unison behind her.

Charlie nodded, "In that moment, I was the girl who fell in love with a man who not only saved my life, but showed me how to be a true demon, a monster, the thing that goes bump in the night. A demon I needed to be, to save innocent lives."

"Oh, this is going to be good!" Angel Dust relished, taking a long pull of his drink.

"Charlie?" Vaggie gasped, "You were on Earth? Stuck on Earth? When? How? Why didn't you tell me any of this?"

Charlie ehhed, "Ex-boyfriend. Ex-Angel? Sometimes, the past isn't easy to share."

Vaggie pulled her wings sheepishly around herself, chastised, but she saw Charlie's soft look, that it wasn't said in admonishment or anger and she sank back into the chair, still stunned at the revelation but her wings tucked away, and she looked up, "Earth?"

"Wait, I need to say it all correctly," Charlie shook her head, "I mean it.. I just fell back into the girl I was then.. in love with Angel, and I kissed him, Vaggie.. with the love and loss that was… is? Was.. true. I don't say that to hurt you, but to explain myself."

Vaggie motioned with a soft smile, "Go on. I am listening, my love."

Charlie looked at Angel for encouragement, and Angel took the lead, "Vaggie? All of you? Let me start with a proper introduction. My name is Kevin Angelus Collins. When I was alive on Earth, I dedicated my life to finding lost children and teens. Children taken, kidnapped, trafficked, whatever the reason, I would find them and get them home. I did not always succeed."

Murmuring voices buzzed the air of the room, and even Lucifer looked uncomfortable with this part. Angel continued, "I was trailing two brothers, whom my source had info on possibly being behind the kidnapping of two little girls."

"Cassie!" Charlie's eyes grew at the sudden memory of her dear friend, and she looked to Angel, "Is she?"

"Still alive, last I knew." He assures her, and continues to the group, "I'd been scouting a farm land, narrowing in on them, when I saw a sudden flash of bright light through some foliage. Investigating, I was shocked to find a young woman laying in the thicket. Charlie."

"How!?" Vaggie gasped.

Charlie took over, "I'll get to that, but as you know, being the daughter of Lucifer doesn't grant you automatic respect. Remember Studio 666? I was used to that kind of mockery growing up. I needed to prove myself. I was determined to show that I was strong, confident, and a leader. SO, I explored Hell all over, feeling invulnerable and powerful. I was Lucifer's daughter, after all. I dared to go where even the most dangerous demons would seldom dare to dwell and I wanted to know all of my kingdom, and I wanted my kingdom to know me as someone not to fuck with."

For the first time, Alistor spoke, "You sought out Harum-Nulla-Unde, didn't you?"

A collective gasp met his query, and Charlie nodded again, "I did. I wanted to know if the stories I heard were true. That it was the doorway to .. well, no one could ever say cause no one who was believed to go into it… came back to say what it was. I decided I'd be the one who would come back, and prove I was truly the heir to hell. It was so fucking stupid of me."

No one dared to speak, allowing Angel to resume from where he left off, "She was bleeding badly, clothes ripped to near shreds and she had trouble speaking when I found her. I got her back to my van and wrapped her in a blanket, and accessed the damages. I started to bandage her, asking questions, trying to get her to talk and tell me who she was."

Charlie spoke up, "My head was clearing while he cleaned my wounds, and his soft questioning voice felt comforting, but I could not remember anything… well, except for my given name."

"Charlotte." Vaggie whispered.

"Mmmhmm. But it was the only thing I could remember." Charlie's eyes flickered with so many memories, "Now, though? Everything is flooding back."