Chapter Six: A Parent's Worth
Disclaimer: See Chapter One
Hey everyone, hope you are enjoying this tale. I love that some of you guys are really into it. Trust me though, you haven't seen anything yet, this is only the beginning. I do want to say that the person that commented the image of Sera giving Lilith a good thrashing, that is definitely an image.
If you see this on the day I am posting it, Happy Mother's Day, how fitting.
Anyway, On with the Show:
Hell
It was a busy few weeks for the staff at the Hazbin Hotel, ever since Sir Pentious made a radio broadcast with Alastor, the rooms of the Hotel kept filling up. It got to a point that Angel Dust had to start keeping a waiting list for both people showing up at the door and for those that would call to ask if they had any empty rooms.
Charlie, though constantly stressed, was happy with the turnout. They had to add a full auditorium wing for lessons. It also worked out that Grandfather had finally gotten around to processing their request to have access to Sir Pentious more regularly. Knowing that he would be very influential, God basically gave Sir Pentious a key to go back and forth. Angel and Husk would joke that it was his 'Get out of Hell free card." Sir Pentious was perhaps the most useful of everyone there, as many came just to talk with him about how he did it.
Charlie's lessons shifted from things like trust falls and such to things like repenting sins, tolerance, letting go of pride, monogamy, being kind to others, etc. Angel was not that happy about that monogamy one, but was glad that it was not about being in a heterosexual relationship as he would make women pay more to sleep with him during his prostituting days, also there was his burgeoning relationship with Husk to think about.
In the span of those few weeks, they had managed to get several more Sinners redeemed up to Heaven, about half a dozen and Alastor did his part in issuing broadcasts with the latest updates on the process of salvation.
Lucifer was a proud father watching Charlie and Emily work together to save the souls of those that can be saved. In the meantime, when he was not around the Hotel, he was keeping Hell in line to the best of his abilities. Sera was also proud of Emily and Charlie, having started to see Charlie like a second daughter, despite being busy most of the time at the Embassy while Emily worked at the Hotel.
As for Lilith, she played nice, kept up appearances as Queen of Hell, despite her rising hatred of Sera and Emily. She needed time to work on Lucifer and Charlie, so she got a bit involved with the new residents of the Hotel, telling them about her time, the pleasant parts, in Heaven. However, what she didn't know was that, despite raising the woman, Charlie was more likely to confide in Sera than her over her feelings about things. Roo had gone quiet for the most part, in her mind. It was for the best to keep hidden if not needed.
Hotel Lobby
There they were, tired from a hard day of reforming Sinners and maintaining the Hotel. Around the lobby's furniture. Lucifer with Charlie and Vaggie on one side, and Emily on the other. Lilith was in one of the chairs near them. Alastor sat in his favorite chair. Husk and Angel sat next to Sir Pentious and Cherri Bomb. Niffty was perfectly content to sit on the floor next to Alastor. Sera was working late at the Embassy that day.
"What a day," Angel commented. While even he was happy with the work they were doing, in some ways it reminded him of the long days under his old boss, just for how taxing on the mind and body this was.
"How many do we think we will get in total?" Niffty asked, out of curiosity.
"Impossible to know, my dear, as we have new arrivals in the realm by the day," Alastor told her with a pat of her head. Niffty was one of the only people that could say that they were close to him. He cared for her in his own, twisted way.
"I don't like the idea, but I may at some point need to cull the populace again," Lucifer was thinking out loud.
Everyone looked at the king in various levels of concern, with Charlie and Emily being the most concerned. They were the ones that disliked the first cull the most. "Dad? You want to explain that?" Charlie asked.
"Or I find some way to expand Pentagram City, and the Pride Ring, we are already near the limits of the realm. I'll talk to Dad first, but I do know that we are still getting some truly wicked people down here that honestly, probably don't deserve a chance at redemption." He stroked his chin for a second in thought, and an idea came to him. "What do you all say to the idea of a census to find out what Sinners are in Hell for, so that A) we know what we can help them focus on to get them up to Heaven, B) so I can figure out our growth rate, and C) if need be, to know who to cull."
"Well, the first two reasons sound good," Vaggie said. Lucifer began to rub Emily's back, knowing that her gentle heart hated talking about such things concerning the destruction of human souls. Lilith grit her teeth behind her lips, seeing Lucifer do that. This needed to be addressed soon. Sera and her spawn needed to leave. This project was finished, in her opinion, as she came back to Hell to shut the hotel down and get Lucifer and Charlie under control so that Lute would shield her in Heaven. However, that was quickly going sideways, as long the angels were around.
"Well, I don't know about you fuckers," Cherri Bomb began her sentence, but she meant it sincerely as she was coming around to everyone else. "It has been a long day, and I bet Pentious needs some rest, don't you?" Cherri held her hand out to him as she stood. Pentious got her meaning and took her hand, getting up, placing Keekee on the couch, as she had been in his lap.
"Yes, I do," he said and followed her up to the suites. Angel and Husk shared a look, knowing what was going on there.
"Yes, it has been a long day, I am returning to the Palace. Luci, are you coming home or crashing here?" Lilith stood, she couldn't be near Emily anymore that day.
"Haven't decided yet, dear," Lucifer weakly smiled at her. Lilith turned and left the hotel.
"Well, if you do, I'll be waiting," Lilith turned and left.
Once Lilith had left for the evening, Lucifer made a motion to everyone that signified that he wanted to speak with family alone. Everyone that was not a Morningstar, except Vaggie, departed the room. He wrapped both of his arms around his daughters and pulled them into a hug a quick second, taking a moment to enjoy this family moment.
"Char, tell me something, and be honest, what do you think about your mother being back?" Lucifer asked his hellborn daughter. It was a question that had been plaguing him lately.
Seeing what her father was getting at, "I am happy that she is back and all, but…" Charlie paused a second and Lucifer's brow raised in question. "I do have my problems with her being back, as she never answered or returned my calls while she was in Heaven, and it seemed like she abandoned us. In many ways, Sera has been more of a mother figure to me lately than her, and that hurts me to say, but it is true." Emily was quietly taking this information in, both happy that her half-sister was taking a liking to her mother, but also it did disturb her that Lilith had acted this way.
"Yeah, I understand, Char. I feel something similar, considering when I found her, a few weeks back when she arrived, trying to seduce me after all this time away," Lucifer said.
"Did not need to know that, Dad," Charlie's face looked a bit ill at hearing that. Emily felt the same way.
"Sorry, but it does illustrate my point. There is so much for us to work through as a family for us to be back to 'normal,'" He made air quotes around the word normal. "I don't know why she thought that I could just drop it all and let her back in as if nothing happened," he sighed in thought.
"I know this may sound crude, but do you think she still loves you?" Vaggie asked. She did not know the woman in question well, aside from what Charlie had told her over the years about her mother. All three Morningstars looked at her in question.
"Vaggie…" Charlie began to chide her girlfriend for asking such a brazen question, but she was also beginning to wonder it too, in the wake of how she reacted to Sera and Emily being around.
"I don't know, Vaggie. While I do know she held no love for Adam, she did put up with him calling in his side of their deal while up there, and knowing the First Man, he did it quite a bit." All four of them grimaced in thought about that, considering everything they knew about the man, from varying levels of experience, with Charlie having the least. "We split due to career differences, she also had some problems with me falling into the depression I did upon seeing all the evil my choice to give humanity free will, and failing to redeem souls before." He explained the first part of this whole situation. "Also, there are the Sins, I am not going into it, but Asmodeus was a bit of a problem. Also, as Charlie will attest to, there is a good bit of misogyny here in Hell." Charlie hated the fact that he was right on that one.
Lucifer continued his explanation, "For Dad's sake, Lily's career was as a singer, mostly a club singer, despite being Queen. I listened to her ideas, but the rest of Hell really didn't. Asmodeus, Satan, Mammon, Leviathan, they all didn't listen to her when she tried to give them good ideas. Yes, she is the one that civilized Hell, and built me a power-base, but still, not many listened to her otherwise. Even I had my moments, as the Sin of Pride." Lucifer's face dropped in regret. He was the Ringleader of the Circus Troupe of the Sins, even dressing like one, and yet even he could not fully control the other Six of the Seven Deadly Sins.
"Which would explain why she tried to keep Charlie away from you," Vaggie commented.
"Yeah," Lucifer agreed.
"Dad, who are the Sins?" Emily asked. She was still learning about how Hell worked.
"That is a loaded question, my dear angel. The Seven Deadly Sins are the Over-bosses of the Seven Rings of Hell. All of them answer to me, Over-boss of the Pride Ring, boss of bosses and the King of Hell. Satan Is the Sin of Wrath, and the one that humans often conflate with me. No clue how that happened. Asmodeus is the Sin of Lust, and the dead Valentino's personal idol." Everyone who knew of Sinner in question rolled their eyes.
"Beelzebub Is the Sin of Gluttony. Mammon is the Sin of Greed, which reminds me, someone remind me to send Him a cease and desist over Loo Loo World." He kept meaning to do that, but just hadn't bothered to do anything about it yet.
"Noted, Dad," Charlie wrote it down for him.
"Belphegor is the Sin of Sloth, and Leviathan is the Sin of Envy. For your safety, Emmy, stay away from them, if you happen to see them up here in the Pride Ring," Lucifer warned them.
"How will I know them from Sinner?" Emily asked.
"If they look like part of a circus act, that is them, and Dad most of the time, dresses as a Circus Ringleader." Charlie explained for her sister.
"I see," Emily had to take a moment to process that.
"So, what do you think Mom is thinking about with Sera and Emily around?" Charlie asked, it had been on her mind since the previous day.
"I know she is not happy that they are around, I just hope she doesn't do anything stupid." Lucifer told her, but his heart was telling him that Lily would try to get him and Charlie back under thumb. In their time apart, once Sera and Emily reentered his life, he began to see things clearly. Yes, he did still love the woman he married, but he was growing concerned. He would never again be under her thumb. He side hugged Emily to reassure himself of that. His kids took priority over everything else, he failed both once, he was not going to do so again.
Next Day, Evening, Hell Royal Palace
Lucifer decided that if He and Charlie had dinner with Lilith at home, he may be able to glean some information from her. He had a bad feeling that Lilith was not the same as the woman he married. Well, he knew something was wrong as he knew she was trying to control him again, he just didn't know what exactly was going on. Arriving at home, he made dinner for the four of them, three Morningstars and Vaggie.
As the four of them sat around the table, the air was still. One could say it was due to them eating, but that was not the real issue and everyone knew it. Lucifer and Lilith just stared at each other a bit across the table, silently eating their food.
At last, the silence got to Lucifer. He set his utensils down, took a sip of his wine, and wiped his face with a napkin, finally addressing the elephant in the room. "Do you want to say it, or do you want me to?" He asked his wife. She finished chewing the bite she had, and wiped her face and looked her husband dead in the eye. "I know what this is about, Lily."
Lilith's eyebrow cocked in question, "Oh? What is it about, my dear husband?"
"This is about the fact that you don't like the fact that I am being a father to both of my children." There it was, out in the open air. Charlie and Vaggie stayed quiet as they were more so as to be observant while Lucifer and Lilith argued.
"Yes, this second family of yours. Or is it that me and Charlie are the second family?" Lilith's eyes narrowed at Lucifer, a slightly unspoken accusation in the air.
He knew this was going to be difficult. "It's not like that, Lily. I never knew that Emily was my daughter until after Charlie came back from the meeting with Heaven."
"Forgive me if I don't believe you, dealing with our citizens, you tend to learn a few things," Lilith said. She was right on that, people cheating on their partner with another lover, having second, even third families.
"He is telling the truth, Mom," Charlie said in defense of her father's honor. Lilith's gaze shifted over to her daughter. "He set up a meeting at my request to speak with Sera to pitch my hotel to Heaven, in an attempt to stop the Exterminations. While me and Vaggie were up there, we met Sera and Emily, and when we returned after our plea was denied, I told Dad what had happened and when I mentioned Emily, he had no idea who she was initially. I told him that she was Sera's sister or something." Charlie hoped that if Lilith heard it from her first hand account, she would believe her father.
"Which I knew was wrong, I knew for a fact that Sera never had a sibling as I would have memories of interacting with them if she did, and as Charlie described her to me, everything fell into place. Sera confirmed it to me when I called in the wake of the battle to tell her that Exterminations were finished." He took a sip of wine, he knew he would need it, to get through this.
"So what? She lets you meet Emily once, and all of a sudden you want both of them in your life, considering Sera is the woman that helped kick us, kick you out of Heaven?" Lilith asked. In many ways, she was right, as both of them thought about that day, for different reasons.
"I failed both of my kids once, Lily. I will not fail them again," he swore that he would support them and he will do his damndest to fulfill that promise.
Lilith stood from the table and leaned on it toward him. "One of these days, you will need to choose which family matters more to you, and for the sake of our daughter, I hope you make the right choice."
"Don't worry, I will," Lucifer's eyes narrowed. Lilith was not the same woman he had married anymore. Lilith stood to her full height, downed the rest of her glass, and walked away.
Lucifer sat, arms crossed, in quiet thought for a moment. "What are you thinking, Dad?" Charlie asked, concerned for both of her parents.
"I am thinking that she has definitely changed, and that I am not choosing between my kids. I would rather offer my own life for the both of you, if it meant that you two could continue to do such great work." He sighed, this was more difficult than he thought.
"Just hope that is not prophetic, my lord," Vaggie said, slightly concerned.
"I know," he took a large sip of his glass, "and I am worried about her."
"So am I, Dad, what do we do?" Charlie hoped he had a plan.
"I don't know yet, and that is also what scares me." He admitted that he was scared, for everyone he loved, whether that was Charlie or Lilith or Emily or Sera. He felt like he was winding up caught in the crossfire in a feud that he technically started, but was also innocent in at the current time. He finished his glass of wine. When the girls were finished, and they had cleaned the table, they went back to the Hotel for the night.
Next Day, Heaven Embassy
As the next morning broke, Lilith awoke in an empty palace. She knew what that meant. As she got out of bed and looked out the window, seeing the Hotel in the distance, she knew today was the day that she would see Sera to see if she could talk her out of being involved with her husband.
When the clock struck midday, Lilith walked into the Embassy and upon seeing no one at the desk, hit the bell like anyone else. The holy parchment appeared to sign in and she signed it as Lilith Morningstar, and it disappeared. She walked toward the conference room that would be Sera's office.
Entering the Angel's office, "Lilith? What do I owe the pleasure?" Sera greeted her, through her teeth. She knew this was not going to be pleasant.
"Why are you and the other one here?" The Queen of Hell asked, her tone cold.
Sera was right, this was not going to be pleasant. "I am here upon appointment from the Lord Almighty, who may I remind you, created you, to work with the King and Princess of Hell in the process of rehabilitating Sinners in order to redeem them and get them up to Heaven." That was the official reason, as God had recorded in the books of Angelic assignments, unofficially, however, she and Emily were there to spend time with Lucifer. "Now, let me ask again, why are you here?" There was a lot of bad blood that she knew would rear its ugly head in the coming days.
"Stay away from my husband and daughter, and keep your spawn out of their lives," Lilith told the High Seraph. Sera's lips twitched hearing Lilith refer to Emily like that. Sera's eyes narrowed, now it was clear why Lilith had come here to see her. She wanted Sera and Emily gone so she could control Lucifer and Charlie. "I knew one day you would try to steal him back," Lilith accused Sera.
Sera stood from her desk and walked up to the First Woman. "So, it all becomes clear. You want them back under your thumb."
"You think you and your spawn can come to my kingdom, insert yourself into my husband's life and supplant me in Charlie's life?" Lilith accused Sera.
"A kingdom, a husband, and a daughter you so abandoned for Paradiso. Tell me, Lilith, do you truly hold motherly affection in your dark heart for Charlie?" To Sera, Lilith abandoned her responsibilities, not just as Queen, but to both her husband and daughter, which especially that last one bothered Sera heavily.
Lilith seemed shocked to be accused of such a thing. "I love my daughter, and I love my husband dearly."
"Really? Then, tell me the truth: Why did you never return either of their calls, let alone pick up the phone when Charlie would try to call you on the eve of the Exterminations for the past seven years?" Sera knew she had Lilith on that one, based on the look of shock on the Queen's face. "Oh yes, I know about that, Charlie told me everything."
This is problematic, Charlie is seeing Sera as a second mother figure, Lilith thought.
Sera got to the heart of the matter regarding the unofficial reason she was here. "If Lucifer wants to be in Emily's life, that is his decision and I will allow it. I lied to her long enough and I will not deprive her of a loving father in her life." Sera told her, hoping that would be the end of it, though knowing it would not be. "Lucifer called me first and asked me if he could meet his other child. Reluctantly, at the time, I agreed, and thank the Lord, he has yet to prove me right in that hesitancy."
"Charlie is the only daughter he should be supporting." Lilith said, angrily.
While not seeing a potential imminent threat, Sera still got up in Lilith's face. She wanted to put this woman in her place, but settled for a stern warning. "If any harm comes to Emily because of you, I will fucking bury you." The fact that the High Seraph was swearing was cause for pause for even Lilith. "I don't care that you are the first human woman or Queen of Hell. I don't care that it is forbidden for an angel to harm a human unless the Lord commands it. You come after Emily and I will not be responsible for my actions." Sera stared Lilith in the eye as she said that, hoping that Lilith would take her warning to heart and back off, and let Lucifer just enjoy his found happiness.
"You threaten me, in my domain?" Lilith asked as her demon form came to bear on the Angel.
Careful Lilith, do not expose any of our potential plans, or me. Roo warned her, emerging in her mind for the first time in a few days. She hoped that she would not need to take an active role in diffusing this, by taking control of their shared body temporarily. Roo's concern grew a moment when Sera responded to Lilith drawing her demon form, horns large and proud.
Sera met Lilith's demon form with wings and extra eyes opening, her partial angelic form. "I only wish to protect what is mine, and any one that dares to bring harm to her will be destroyed. As a mother yourself, I know you would understand that. Now, if you are done, see yourself out of my office." A moment of glaring at each other, Lilith turned on her heel and left.
As she walked out, Roo began talking. That was too close, Lily. I don't think she suspects that either that I am here, or that we may move against her, but you nearly blew several of the backup plans.
Not like you can judge me, old friend. I know I was close, but she needed to know my stance on the matter, Lilith told the entity in her mind.
You know she is going to tell Lucifer, right? Roo asked, concerned that things may be undone on the peaceful front, if Lucifer would be on to them.
I know, Lilith said back. Nothing I can do about it.
Want my suggestion? Roo asked, making a decision for the both of them. It was time to take a more active approach to this issue.
What do you have in mind? Lilith asked the entity.
It's time to make a permanent solution to the issue, remove the Angelic Daughter from the equation, however you feel is best to do so. Without the young one, Lucifer and Sera will not have any reason to bond at all, and not even her little appointment here will not last. Lilith knew that Roo meant to eliminate the other daughter so that Lucifer would only focus on Charlie. It was not a bad idea at this point, and Alastor had been asking for a way to settle their deal to gain his freedom. She knew she had to talk with him once Sera and Emily had departed for Heaven again.
Can we trust him? Roo asked, knowing that Lilith thought of the Radio Demon that sold his soul to Lilith for power.
He has no loyalty to Lucifer, and he hates what my dear husband has been doing to help the common sinners, and breathing down the Overlords' backs, hand near his sword. Lilith informed the entity of Evil.
What about loyalty to Charlie? Roo asked, a bit concerned.
I may have sent him to watch over her, but he holds no bond with her. Other than our deal, he only sticks around the Hotel to see Sinners try and fail to redeem themselves for his own amusement. Besides, he will be glad to kill another angel, letting him indulge in his serial killer past. Lilith told Roo, confident that Alastor will fulfill the task.
If you trust him to get the job done and not link it back to us, then I will trust you on this. Roo partially had no choice in the matter, she bonded to Lilith's soul, and they are two people, one body situation at the moment.
Sera's office
As Lilith turned and left, and once Sera had calmed down, she texted Lucifer to warn him about his wife. Be careful, Luci. Lilith just paid me a visit at the Embassy, and she wants to get you and Charlie under her thumb again.
I know, something has changed in her, but I don't know what. I'll keep an eye out, also Dad will want to know. Lucifer had also noticed that something was up with his wife, considering their talk when he found her nude in his bed when she had returned.
Should one of us call or text him? Sera asked, she partially wanted to get God involved as soon as they could.
I think it would be better to tell him at dinner this week, as that way we can watch her and have more evidence to present to him. Lucifer texted back a plan.
Okay. Sera texted back. It was the best plan they had.
Hotel
After texting Sera about what was going on with his wife, he turned to Charlie. "Char, I need you to do me a favor."
"What do you need, Dad?" Charlie asked him.
"Keep an eye on your mother when she is around. Something is going on and I am concerned about her," Lucifer's eyes narrowed in thought.
"What happened now?" Vaggie asked him.
"Sera told me that she had visited the Embassy and the two got in an argument, presumably over me splitting my affection between Charlie and her sister," Lucifer flicked his head over to where Emily was talking with several sinners that were trying to seek their redemption.
"We'll keep an eye out," Vaggie assured him.
"Good, I am getting worried." Addressing Charlie again, "When we go to family dinner this week, me and Sera need to have a word with your grandfather about this." Lucifer sighed in thought.
In the rest of the days leading up to the family dinner, Lilith was playing things cautiously. She kept her motives close to the chest, leaving almost nothing for Lucifer or Sera to pick up on, as she had stayed at the palace most of the time. When she was around the Hotel, she had a very convincing smile on her face, Roo slightly helping in that department, just to cover their tracks.
Later that week
It was a monthly family dinner night at the Heavenly Palace. The twelve members of the family, now including Vaggie, had gathered as they did before. As Lucifer had told his hellborn daughter, he and Sera separated from the rest of the family and went and spoke with the Creator.
"Hey, Dad, before we eat, we gotta talk," Lucifer said to the Lord.
"Okay, Dinner has to cook a little bit on its own, so I can step away for a minute," it was Sauce night. God gave the pot one last stir, set the wooden spoon down, and followed Lucifer and Sera out of the kitchen. "What's the issue?" God asked as he took a seat in his chair in the den, with both Angels standing in front of him.
"It's Lilith," Lucifer began. God's brow arched in question, wondering where this was going. "She's back in Hell, but she is not the same woman I married."
"Enlighten me, something clearly happened this week," God said, concerned that something may affect his son's marriage, or worse affect his grandkids.
"Lilith paid me a visit in my office at the Embassy, and we got into a heated argument," Sera told him what happened.
"Did it come to blows?" God's jaw drew a hard line, as he asked that. He had forbidden angels from harming a human, unless he commanded it, or in self-defense or defense of others.
"No, my lord. However, I did have to use my more angelic form with her as she drew her demon form on me," Sera told him.
"I see, tell me what it was about," God leaned back in his chair to listen to what they had to say.
"Lily has been trying to get me and Charlie back under thumb, to the point of trying to threaten Sera and Emily to stay away from us. She seems to be jealous that I equally split my affection between both of my daughters like I should as a father." Lucifer crossed his arms, not happy with this situation.
"I see, this is indeed concerning. Do you think Charlie or Emily are in danger?" If they said yes to either of his grandkids, he was going to pull both of them up to Heaven.
"I don't think so, but we can't be sure. I do think me and Emily should spend a few weeks up here so that Lucifer and Charlie can investigate and see what Lilith is up to more freely, as she will be more guarded with us around." Sera told him the plan.
God stroked his chin in thought, "Alright, we will go with that for now. Are you sure you don't need me to step in?"
"No, that would only cause a further problem." Lucifer said.
"Alright, let us keep this in the immediate family right now. Don't tell your brothers, especially Michael. He would raise the banners if you did." Lucifer had to agree with that, Michael would raise the banners and assemble the Heavenly Host to go down to Hell. "If there is nothing else, let's eat." The relatively large family sat down to eat the meal the Lord had prepared, and as always, it tasted divine.
Meanwhile, Hotel Bar
Lilith knew that the time had come to talk with Alastor as Lucifer and Charlie had left with Sera and Emily for Heaven for family dinner. She headed up to the Hotel that Charlie ran, pushed open the doors and paid no mind to anyone around as she made her way to the bar where she saw Alastor sipping a glass of rye. Husk immediately poured a drink for her and got out of dodge as he saw the look on her face.
"Something bothering you, my Queen?" Alastor asked, his signature grin on his face.
"Sera is what is bothering me," Lilith said as she raised her glass to sip her drink.
"Yes, I had figured that it had to do with the other family of Lucifer's," Alastor said, taking a sip of rye.
"I need you to take care of this problem for me," Lilith said to him. Alastor fixed her with a look. This was not part of the deal, which she had yet to release him from. "Do this last thing for me and the deal is done, and you will be free," Lilith reasoned with Alastor.
He took a sip of rye, "what is the job, my lady?" The prospect of his leash being broken was too enticing.
"I want you to kill Emily Morningstar," Lilith told him. There, the decision was made, and she could feel Roo approve in her mind. Alastor took a long sip from his glass, his signature wide grin in full effect. Lilith could tell that he was already planning something in that twisted serial killer mind of his.
Hehehehehe, hehehehehehe, Oh, did you see that coming? So, now it begins, Lilith and Roo are making a more desperate play, will it succeed? Stay tuned. Yes, I know it is a cliffhanger, but I felt in my heart that it was perfect to end this chapter that way. Oh, I can't wait to show you my plans. See you next time, hehehehehehehehe, hehehehehehehe.