Warning: this chapter is quite longer, compared to the other ones. Savour it, cause a fan favourite comes back right here!

CHAPTER 4

Ding!

The sound of an oven finishing its job echoed across the walls as the fragrant aroma of freshly-baked sweets spread along the walls of what seemed to be a gigantic white-walled house set on a basement made of pure white clouds. An eternal sunlight shone on the house, basking its interiors and exalting the pure cleanliness and order of the furniture. Amongst them, a snake-like creature slithered, the upper part of the body cladded in a white elegant robe. In his arms he held a tray of muffins. Sir Pentious manoeuvred expertly up to a sofa, where a short angelic figure with grey skin and long white hair was sitting, hands neatly and composedly leaning on her white princess-like gown.

Emily smiled as she saw the serpent place the tray on the table. "Thank you, Sir Pentious, they look positively delicious" the angel said, although her smile didn't extend to her eyes. The former demon was quick to take notice of that.

"Missss Emily, isss there sssomething wrong? Maybe you preferred sssome tea and ssscones?" the former demon asked, bringing his hat on his chest.

"Oh no no no, Sir Pentious, they are fine!" Emily was quick to dismiss Sir Pentious's worry and took a muffin and stuffed a muffin in her mouth. Unfortunately, a way too big chunk of it stuck it in her throat and threatened to choke her. She started to cough louder and louder while hitting her chest trying to unlodge the piece of muffin. Sir Pentious intervened, giving some light hits on her back until she managed to finally swallow the muffin.

"You ssshould be careful, Missss Emily, the raisins have that effect". She continued to cough until she took back some composure.

"It's my fault, I didn't want you to worry. They are delicious. I was just not very focused". Emily completely lost her tentative smile. "You should not be confined here! You should be able to go out and see everything Heaven has to offer, not here cooking all day".

"You don't like my cooking? I'm trying to get better" Sir Pentious said with a concerned look. Emily looked at the serpent, her sadness improving. "No, your cooking is superb, but this is not about it! You ascended, you are living proof that a sinner can improve their ways and get to Heaven, just like Charlie said! It's not fair that you aren't permitted to go out, have a look, make some friends!"

"I had friendsss" Sir Pentious remembered with a mournful look. At these words, Emily's blue eyes wavered and filled with tears. Sir Pentious, looking at the effect his words had, tenderly coiled around the Seraphim. "I'm sssorry, Missss Emily, I didn't mean to sssadden you. You are my friend and I am glad that you are taking care of me here, I don't need to go outssside". Emily grabbed the scaly skin of Pentious.

"How can I be defined as the Seraphim of Joy and spread happiness around if I can't even find it in my own heart?". Sir Pentious patted her head, unsure what to do, thinking about the times that Charlie was the one to console him.

"Don't worry, I'm sssure you will find your way. It all ssstartsss…with a sssmile!". Sir Pentious opened his mouth in a toothy grin, trying to cheer up the angel.

Emily looked at the serpent: it was incredible how funny and endearing he managed to be. She couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, making Sir Pentious smile even more. "Sssee, Misss Emily? I'tsss better!"

"Ow, you are right, it is better! Thank you, Sir Pentious!"

"You are welcome, Missss Emily"

Emily smiled at the angelic soul, although shadows soon took over her features. "It's Sera's fault I can't think straight. We keep on fighting on this! I was right, Charlie was right, sinners can redeem themselves and hope to ascend to Heaven, why can't she see that? I don't think she should flaunt you around like some sort of trophy, but she should be overjoyed that a soul managed to have such deep redemption that was able to cross from Hell to Heaven! Instead, the moment I try to raise the topic she shuts me down and tells me to look after you. Don't get me wrong, I love your company, but I would like to show you all Heaven has, not just these walls! ".

The Seraphim rage was mounting by the minutes, as she thought at every encounter she had with Sera after Charlie's visits and especially after Sir Pentious's ascension. Every time she tried to reason with the Higher Seraphim she silenced her, like a mother silencing a petulant child, despite her having been alive for a century at least. She was sick and tired of being treated as an ignorant fool while she had all the proof of how right she was! The only satisfaction she was getting was that probably Sera too was quite feeling tired of their fighting, as she appeared not always in control of herself.

A word started to surge inside her, a word she was sure no one had said in Heaven since Adam's passing. She opened her mouth, screaming so loud even Sir Pentious was startled.

"F********CK!"

Charlie woke up suddenly, feeling like a dream interrupted in the middle of the best part. She saw that in the room shadows were starting to get longer; she looked outside, staring at the setting sun.

"Ehi there, Hon" she heard Vaggie's voice upon her, greeting her.

"Ehi Babe…is it evening already? Did I miss lunch?" Charlie mumbled. She didn't attempt to get up: her girlfriend's lap was too comfortable.

"That we did. You needed your rest, today has been hard on you". Vaggie lightly stroked Charlie's hair, a loving look on her face. The hellborn demon looked at her girlfriend with a pang of sadness in her eyes.

"I'm sorry you missed lunch too. You could have just let me here and grab something".

"And missing the chance to see your cute, adorable sleeping face? Fuck no!" Vaggie retorted, smiling tenderly. Charlie chuckled, then raised her hands, wrapping them around Vaggie's head and lightly pulling towards her. The angel leaned forward, accepting the pull, and kissed her girlfriend.

It was a long, deep and gentle kiss, hot and sweet as cocoa. Vaggie could feel herself melting in Charlie's hands as she was lightly shifting her position but always remaining upside down, feeling her own hands running gently on Charlie's arms. A knock on the door interrupted that idyllic moment. Vaggie reluctantly separated from her girlfriend, her face showing a sour expression matching her own.

"I swear, privacy here is a luxury…yes?!". Vaggie yelled the last part as she saw Charlie sitting up on the bed. They heard the door creaking as it opened, revealing the figure of Husk.

"Ehi, I was checking on you. Dinner is ready, but if you wish I can bring something here from the kitchen" the cat demon said in his deep voice. Concern was plastered on her feline features, something rare for the alcoholic bartender. Charlie sighed.

"No, Husk, give us a couple of minutes and will be there, '' the demon said while rising from the bed. Husk nodded and closed the door, leaving the two lovers alone. Charlie started to stretch as Vaggie raised from the bed herself, looking at the hellborn demon with concern.

"Are you sure you're ok? You seem still quite tired" the fallen angel asked. Charlie smiled at her and nodded.

"I'm ok, I actually feel pretty good. Must have been your legs, they are so comfy!". Vaggie smirked.

"Oh yeah? Well, I might let you use them later. But only if I can touch your hair" she said. Charlie smiled and took her girlfriend's hand while opening the door. "Deal".

As they went towards the kitchen, hand in hand, they heard Angel Dust discussing with someone. Once inside, they saw that he was gesturing towards Husk like a madman.

"No, Whiskers, I won't put the sauce on the side, it's meant to melt with the spaghetti. And I'm not using cheddar, you have to use the parmigiano on it. I swear on him, you are a miscredente!" Angel Dust was screaming, while pointing at Lucifer, who was consuming an appetiser.

"You do realise I can understand Italian, don't you?" Husk replied, unbothered by Angel Dust's behaviour.

"If you really did, you wouldn't ask me such things! Oh, hey there Charlie, Vaggie. Dinner is served, please sit down".

The two sat, Charlie on the right of her dad and Vaggie on Charlie's right. Lucifer eyed her daughter with concern. "Are you ok, sweetie? You looked really exhausted" he asked. Charlie was growing a bit tired of everyone worrying about her, but she held back her comments, as she knew that they did that because they cared about her.

"I'm fine, thanks dad. I just needed some rest, and that I did". Lucifer wasn't satisfied with her answer but decided not to press on and to leave some space to the daughter. Instead, he focused on the steaming plate of food that Angel placed in front of him. He tasted a strand of spaghetti and his eyes began to sparkle.

"Oh my gosh, it is delicious!". Everyone at the table started to eat, their faces sharing the same enthusiasm. Even a reluctant Husk had to agree that the spaghetti was really good!

"Thank you, thank you for the compliments, it is an old recipe of nonna Antonia, today I felt inspired".

"You know, you should really cook more often, between the breakfast and this dinner, we got to experiment this new side of yours and we love it!" Charlie admitted, as she was eating her own plate ravenously. Angel smirked at the comment.

"Well, if it gets you hot and bothered like last time, I don't see why not". Angel Dust winked at the Princess while giving a second serving to Nifty, who literally demolished her plate with her childlike enthusiasm.

Charlie groaned a little and she heard Vaggie do the same. Sometimes, he really was too perceptive! Luckily for them, the other people at the table either didn't take notice of Angel words or didn't care. Charlie looked at the table: everyone was eating dinner happily, but there was one chair still empty, Alastor's. She was starting to worry about the Radio Demon and wondered if his prolonged absence was related to his wounds. She decided that she will investigate further the question as she finished her food.

Angel Dust was walking through the streets of Pentagram City, following a well-known route that would take him to the spider demon sighed: aside from the attack at the hotel, he greatly enjoyed his free day and longed for another one, but he knew that the peace couldn't last. Now, it was time for him to prepare for another long day of turned around the corner but almost crushed on someone who was standing still.

"Ehi, do you mind? I was passing by!" he protested, but there was no answer. He simply avoided the big, burly sinner but, after a few steps, he stopped and looked at what was causing him and many others to stop so abruptly. Looking high in the sky, Angel Dust watched as the main building of the Vox industries was full of holes and burning. Glasses were broken in multiple floors and people from an imp-led firefighting squad were putting down the last fires.

"What the fuck is going on?!". He stared at the rundown building with an open jaw. It wasn't like that two days ago, although he always dreamt for it to happen, eventually.

He was running at first towards the building, to recover some of his 'belongings', but then a thought occurred that made him stop abruptly. He remembered all that happened the day before and something was really clear: the Vees were involved. And Charlie has sent the assassin to recover the instigator of the attack he was paid to carry out, with any means necessary. Which meant…

"Oh fuck, he killed the Vees! Wait…" Angel Dust checked on his neck, perceiving the faint touch of a chain. That meant the contract was still active. "Yeah, couldn't have been that easy. That's a shame". He sighed, then he raised his head, spotting an owl-like figure passing through the crowd with a nervous look.

"Travis…" he sneered, then started to chase after his clients, manoeuvring more agilely than he did thanks to his slender frame. When the avian demon turned corners, Angel Dust was quick to grab him and slam him to the wall, without him being conscious of who did that until being face to face with the enraged spider demon.

"Oh, hey Angel. Did you see? Something came up, I think you can get home and have another day or two of freedom. Or do you maybe want some extra buck or two? It's been months since the last…" but Travis's rumbling was cut short as an arm appeared, holding a shining silver knife on his throat.

" I'm not here for your games, you sick wife-cheating motherfucker. You were the one who brought the money to that sexy asshole to kill my friend! ". Travis was clearly in shock to see the pornstar being so threatening, but tried to keep his cool.

"Clearly, he did a lousy job with you, that smudgey hotel is still there, unlike Voxtech that has been burnt to the ground. What, did you suck him off so that he would spare, you that embarrassment of the 'Princess of Hell' or that cat you would like to f… aaaagh!". Travis couldn't go on with his dissing because Angel Dust planted the knife right in his shoulder, wearing an angry expression.

"I already take so much shit from Valentino, but I refuse to take that from a lowly dickhead like you. So, you will tell me exactly what happened in there or I will plant something in your rotten feathered ass and it won't be my dick!". To remark on his threat, Angel started twisting the knife in a particularly painful way.

"Aaagh, how are you able to do that?!".

"Start talking or you will find out soon enough how good I am at this. What happened?"

Travis started panting heavily, the pain incredibly strong, almost to the point of passing out as he was hearing the stab wound sizzling.

"I don't know, I wasn't there! All that I know is that before going home I heard the Vees talking with someone and Vox and Val went out, leaving Velvette in the building. I don't know what they were talking about, but I know that when I came back here I found… that! "

Angel was a bit dubious, but then recalled the words of the assassin about someone using the Vees as intermediaries and decided to insist on that detail.

" Who was talking to the Vees? Is it someone from the company? An Overlord? A customer?"

" I don't know, they never removed the cape they were wearing, but they gave off a strange vibe. Like… like they were commanding respect. Even the Vees were intimidated, and they don't give a flying fuck about everyone! "

On that he was right, Angel Dust reckoned: the Vees were either too stupid or too sure about their power to fear someone, even the likes of Lucifer Morningstar himself. So whoever was that mysterious figure, surely it was something very disturbing. He sighed and released Travis.

"Your information aren't worth jack shit. Scram before I change my mind. And not a word to Val or I tell your wife about our meetings and how much you like to have your dick sucked by me. Surely she will find that interesting!" Angel Dust smirked as he was playing expertly with the knife in his hand. Travis fled without so much of a word and disappeared in the shadows.

As he was walking back, he heard his phone start ringing. He brought it out, looking at the annoyed photo of Husk he put as an image related to his contact number. He picked up with a smile.

"Hey Whiskers! I was about to call you, it turns out I have another free day".

"No shit, really". The deep voice of the car demon said from the other side of the phone. Not exactly the reaction Angel Dust was expecting. "Get your ass here, something happened"

"Yes, I saw the Voxtech building".

"Not that. Stop wasting time and come back here, no stops!". Before Angel Dust could ask further questions, Husk hung up. The urgency in his friend's voice told him to start running as fast as he could.

A few hours before…

Charlie woke up relatively soon, feeling quite energised. That was one of the few days she actually managed to rest decently, something that maybe was related to the exhaustion of the day before. She looked down on her girlfriend, finding her still sleeping; she smiled tenderly and leaned down, lightly kissing her forehead before getting up as quietly as possible, deciding Vaggie could rest a bit more. However, as she was reaching her clothes, she heard her stirring up.

"Good morning. Sorry, didn't want to wake you up" Charlie said, but Vaggie dismissed her as she was yawning.

"Don't worry, Hon, I don't really want to sleep if you are awake. You slept well?". Charlie nodded with a smile on her face. "Like a baby. I had too much on my mind and bang, down like a sack of potatoes".

Vaggie smiled, looking at her girlfriend finally being back to her usual cheery and happy self. Before she could say anything else, though, she heard Charlie's phone buzzing. Someone was calling. Charlie picked up her phone.

"It's… Odette Carmine?".

"Is it one of the Spanish lessons? At this point, I can be the one teaching you, you know".

"It was Clara that gave me lessons. I think I'll answer this… Hi there, Odette, how can I help you?". Vaggie heard the faint voice of Carmilla's daughter saying something, although she couldn't exactly figure out the words. She saw, however, her girlfriend's face turning to surprise.

"He spent how much on weapons? Was he allowed to buy that many?". Charlie paused, listening to Odette's explanation.

"Ooof course your mother supplied him before, why am I not surprised? ? Just…you send the bill, I'll mail you a cheque as soon as I can, ok? You know I can pay…and apparently, he does too. Thank you, say hi to Clara, bye". Charlie hung up, her face clouded.

"What is going on, Hon?". Vaggie saw Charlie inhale, trying to calm down.

"Apparently, I owe Carmilla Carmine a huge amount of money. Wicken went there yesterday evening and bought many, many weapons. And said to send the bill here". At that moment, Charlie's telephone pinged with a notification. "Speaking of, here it is". Charlie showed to the angel a document with an invoice; Vaggie looked at it for a few seconds and her only eye widened with surprise, looking at the various amounts. "That's…a lot of guns. What was he thinking, attacking a building?".

Suddenly, a knock on the door startled the two of them. "Hey Char-char, Vaggie dear, I have your breakfast here, are you dressed? May I come in?". The voice of Lucifer came from the other side of the door. Charlie's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"Yes dad, we are awake, come in". Lucifer opened the door, carrying a tray with one hand. "Here's some coffee, milk, jam, orange juice, toast and scrambled eggs. Didn't know what you usually take so I asked Angel to do a bit of everything before leaving. Also, Husk told me to turn on the tv, but said nothing else. Do you have a tv in here?". Charlie nodded.

"Thanks for the breakfast, you overdid it a bit but we need the energy. The remote is in the drawer" Charlie said while pouring a cup of coffee. She heard rustling and the tv coming to life.

"Here we are at 666 Channel, with your loyal host Katie Killjoy…"

"...and Tom Trench!"

"...coming live from the Voxtech building, where a currently unidentified assailant has assaulted the place, laying waste to it and the employee inside. There have been reports of many wounded, although no casualties have been confirmed up to now. Unknown is the destiny of the owner of the building, and our boss, Vox and his two associates… "

Charlie almost choked on her coffee and had to spit it at the news; Vaggie dropped the knife she was using to butter a toast right on Razzle's tail, who started running around the room screeching in pain but being largely ignored; Lucifer was the only one who managed to remain calm, although he still looked quite shocked.

"That… was Wicken's doing?" Charlie asked, her voice still hoarse because of the coffee.

"Yup, that's him"

"Definitely"

"What was he thinking, attacking a trio of Overlords?". Charlie was starting to regret doing the pact, since just a few hours later his contractee was starting to upset the balance of the Pride Ring.

"Well, the Vees were somehow involved. And you said to use any means. That must have been his way of doing the thing" Vaggie mused as she kept on looking the news. The journalists were now interviewing an imp with heavy bandages and a missing arm.

"Yeah, but I said light maiming, no full blown dismemberment" Charlie replied, looking at the news herself.

"With an angelic weapon though. That has probably been done with a regular one. Told you that you have to be very specific with this kind of contract" Lucifer added. Charlie looked at her dad but said nothing.

"And now, what happens?" Before Charlie could even have an answer, someone knocked on the door again.

"Hey, someone in there?" the voice of Husk asked, with a note of urgency that didn't go unnoticed.

"We're here Husk, what is it?". Charlie was hoping that the cat demon was going to bring him good news, but her hopes weren't that high. And that was pretty much confirmed when he opened the door, a tentative look on his feline face.

"It seems that our new friend is back and brought a guest". Charlie groaned: that morning was one of the worst she has ever experienced. "I'll be there shortly. And make me a drink, please". Vaggie raised an eyebrow: when her girlfriend was asking for alcohol that early in the morning, it meant she was starting to get pissed off.

"One Piňa Colada, coming right up. If someone has other requests, I'll be at the counter". Husk excused himself and disappeared. Vaggie sighed, then turned to Lucifer. "Mr. Morningstar, could you please walk out the room? I'd like to change. We'll join you shortly".

Lucifer sighed a little. "Vaggie, you should stop addressing me with such formality, Lucifer will be ok. You are my baby girl's girlfriend after all. I'll wait for you all downstairs, somebody has to keep an eye on that assassin". Lucifer excused himself and walked out of the door, closing it.

Vaggie started to change while Charlie was passing her her clothes. "What do you think Husk meant with 'a guest'? Has he captured someone?" Charlie asked.

"Well, if we know anything about him, it could be one of the Vees".

"Oooh, I hope it is Valentino, I might convince him to break Angel's contract! You know, while we ask why is there someone after my head".

Vaggie smiled as she tied her bow on her hair. "Never change, Hon, never change". She opened the door and walked out, followed by her girlfriend.

"You know…when I said he was bringing one of the Vees, I was actually joking!". Vaggie stared at one chair, where she could see a young sinner with dark skin and a small frame, whose bright coloured hair were styled in two ponytails. There were numerous bruises on the parts of the body that weren't covered by the angelic rope that was tying her down. Her red eyes were scouting with pure hatred every member of the room, but she seemed to lose the ability to talk.

"Also, why are you basically naked?". Vaggie pointed at Wicken, who had just his pants on and nothing else. His body was muscular but not heavily, and was covered in a thick grey fur. Many scars were visible on it, the points where he got presumably stabbed by the exterminators, Charlie thought. A golden locket was dangling on his chest

"Bitch was trying to manipulate my clothes to suffocate me or some shit, got rid of the ones that were blocking me" he replied matter-of-factly. Then, he turned to Husk. "May I have a bourbon, please? Had quite the morning".

Husk said nothing, but grabbed a bottle and poured the alcohol and brought two glasses, one for Wicken, the other, already full with a cocktail garbed with an ananas slice, for Charlie.

"Uh, Princess likes sweet alcohol, I thought that you didn't even drink". Wicken looked at Charlie approvingly, gulping down his drink.

"Nobody in Hell doesn't not drink…except for Nifty, she can't drink, not after…you know what? Not the time for this!". Charlie sipped her drink slowly, then looked at Wicken. "Why the fuck did you bring Velvette of the Vees here? Or better, what…THE FUCK!...were you thinking in taking on Voxtech and making this fucking mess?!".

"You said every means necessary, no killings, right? My body count in there was exactly zero, something weird for me, and I brought her here because one, it was the only Vee I found and two, she may know who wants you dead and why and maybe you wanted to know in person. After all, you are good at questioning…"

"Ha! As I would say anything to this whore…" Velvette snorted, but before she could finish her sentence, she found Vaggie's spear at her throat and Wicken's angelic gun pointed at her forehead.

"Say one more word, you stupid bitch…" Wicken started, while snarling at the Overlord.

"...and I slice your throat off like a fucking birthday cake!" Vaggie concluded, her eye gleaming gold with rage. Velvette's eyes darted between the assassin and the fallen angel, unsure to who she had to be more afraid of. Defeated and intimidated, she wasn't able to muster the ability to speak.

"Ok, I'm flattered, but we need her alive for her to speak. And trust me, Velvette of the Vees, you are going to speak". Charlie took a chair and sat in front of the Vee, looking at her with determination.

"Oh yeah, Princess?" Velvette answered, putting as much loathe as she could in the last word. "What makes you think that I would say twat to ya and ya band of misfits? And wait until other overlords find out that you are upsetting the order of the things and sending arseholes to overlords…"

"About that, I'm sure that she won't have to worry. When she knew I wanted to attack Voxtech, Carmilla Carmine offered me a discount and promised a free gun if I managed to shoot your face off by any chance. So yeah, if she doesn't give two shits about you I guess many of your colleagues don't either" Wicken said, a smile of satisfaction on his lupine face.

"Thank you Wicken for clarifying that up, now you can change into something more appropriate, I got this".

"Sure you do, Princess". And with that, Wicken disappeared in one of the back rooms. Charlie followed him with her stare before looking back at Velvette.

"So Velvette, someone is gunning for my head so much that was willing to use the three of you as a money pool, something I see you hastily agreed on, I wanna know why". Charlie's tone was serious and brisk; she was losing no time.

"And what makes ya think I know something? For all ya care, it might be something made by Val or Vox, we're not that close when discussing plans…" Velvette replied. But Charlie didn't believe a word she was saying.

"Bullshit, it isn't something you can't know".

"Whatever, ya already achieved something, by letting your lap dog laying waste to Voxtech, what more do ya want?".

"I want to know who you were working with and why they want me dead, simple as that. You either tell me or I let Vaggie interrogate you, and let me tell you, she can be vicious, especially when I am in danger. I've seen her ripping off the arm of the lieutenant of the Exterminator army, so I would mind my words if I were you". Charlie knew well that it was Lute herself who ripped off her own arm, but it wasn't a detail Velvette needed to know. To underline Charlie's words, Vaggie started to crack her knuckles.

Suddenly, the hotel's door shut open, revealing the panting figure of Angel Dust.

"Something attacked the studios and a Vee was taken…". He interrupted himself when he saw Velvette tied to a chair and Charlie and Vaggie questioning her.

"Ok, is the hall becoming a bdsm chamber all of a sudden? Because when I tried it, everyone was against it".

"I wasn't!" Nifty intervened, mimicking a whipping gesture. She was largely ignored.

"No Angel, Velvette is our guest and she was just revealing us some juicy details about yesterday's attack. Weren't you?" Vaggie replied, looking at Velvette with deadly expression. She satisfyingly heard the Overlord gulping.

"Did she already jump to the part of the black-cladded figure that apparently made the three of them shit their pants?" Angel Dust asked, not realising the effect his words had. Everyone in the hall looked at him, stunned, even Lucifer, who up to that moment was keeping to himself.

"What did you say, Angel?". Charlie's question took Angel by surprise.

"She…didn't tell you?".

"Great, busted by the pornstar…" Velvette murmured. Charlie looked at her with serious eyes.

"Well, you know from what point you can start to talk, now."

Velvette sighed. "Well, now the cat is out of the bag. I've already been shamed by that dirtbag…". The Vee started, eyeing the assassin, who made it back to the hall, once again in his elegant outfit.

"You weren't much of an adversary. Even for an Overlord, you are quite low-tier. But please, go on". Velvette scoffed at the assassin's remark but didn't reply: he had basically whooped her ass that morning and knew very well that hadn't been for the Princess' order, she would have been dead.

"As I was saying…a couple of days ago, some individual came to us. It's a woman, I ain't know what she looks like, she never removed that cape of hers, but she's tall, quite the sexy bod, probably has blonde hair but can't be tot sure. Vox said she approached him with a business proposition, but then she made us look for some arsehole willing to be paid a lot of money. She ain't say why, just that you had to die for the business to go on, or some shit I ain't got, didn't care enough tbh."

"And your friend Vox agreed to that? Without question, without consulting with you?" Charlie asked, a little perplexed. For what she knew about the Vees -and that was very little- they were basically a business partnership, with Vox being the founder and CEO but the three of them having equal power, simply working in different sectors. However, that behaviour wasn't really befitting a business leader.

"Yeah, Val was on board no question asked, he's got a grudge towards ya because ya keep his favourite toy here. I just went along for the ride, ain't care nothing about this shithole ya got here. I had to admit, though, that was weird that he didn't run the idea with us first…" Velvette stopped, her face suddenly struck with doubts.

" What? Why did you stop? " Charlie questioned. The sudden shift in the Vee's behaviour didn't go unnoticed.

"I… ain't remembering many things. It's like… my memory is in a fog…What… happens with me?". The fear in her voice seemed genuine and told Charlie she wasn't faking it.

Suddenly, a circle of purple light appeared around her neck, like a choker with some weird symbols that Charlie couldn't identify. She, however, saw with horror in her eyes that said light was tightening around her neck, starting to strangle the Overlord.

"I can't… breathe…what did you…do to me?" Velvette wheezed. Purple was starting to tinge her face as she was starting to lack oxygen; she instinctively started to flail and fell down, not crashing to the ground just because Charlie grabbed her.

"Dad! Do something!"she frantically screamed as the light was tightening even more around Velvette's neck, threatening to crush it. Lucifer quickly came by her daughter, analysing the light. "It's…I know this spell, but I'm not sure I can dispel it. Don't touch her neck!" he explained with increasing urgency in his voice, but it was too late: Charlie touched the neck of the Vee and, in doing so, the light left its place and slithered towards Charlie's own neck, who was now beginning to choke. She assumed her demon form, her body getting engulfed in golden fire, but that didn't stop the spell from strangling her. A feral roar left her throat, but it was soon suffocated by the increasingly strong grip on her neck; consciousness started to slip, her vision began to blur.

"Charlie!". Vaggie tried to jump on her girlfriend, but chains made of light blocked her. She turned, looking at Lucifer with frightened eyes.

"No, you have to let me go, I have to save Charlie! I can't live without her!"

"You will, but you can't touch her now, she will demolish you! That spell has to claim a life, but maybe her power can block that long enough to think of a solution!". Lucifer said so, but he had no clue on how to act, racking his mind to find a way but the panic of losing her only daughter prevented him from thinking clearly. He decided: he had to jump in, like Vaggie was trying to do before, as he was the only one there able to resist such powerful hellish fire. However, before he could act, he was shoved away by a much larger figure, who jumped right in the fire and grabbed the neck of Charlie.

Vaggie saw the arm of Wicken getting disintegrated while overtaken by the golden flames and a violet light gripping his neck. Charlie took in precious air, reverting to her normal form and extinguishing the fire. "Don't…Wicken…" But Charlie's words were barely audible. She collapsed on the floor, barely able to not pass out. She saw the spell clenching the assassin's neck; his face was a mask of pain and determination, as even as he was being choked to death he wasn't emitting a sound.

Everyone in the hall reacted with terror and disgust as they heard the collar bone of the wolf demon break and the assassin falling down like a wireless puppet. Charlie saw, however, the light of the spell disappearing. She managed to get up, helped by Vaggie, who was freed by Lucifer chains. The fallen angel embraced the hellborn tightly, tears streaming from her eye.

"Don't you fucking dare to pull such a stunt like that!" she shouted, her voice broken by the desperation she was still feeling.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean…I didn't know…". Charlie returned the embrace, her eyes filling with tears of the lingering pain and sadness.

"No darling, I am sorry. If I had recognized the spell in time, you wouldn't have to suffer that way" Lucifer intervened with a sorrowful look. He was feeling guilty of his supposed incompetence; it was the second time in the span of a few days that he felt he was failing her daughter. But Charlie shook her head.

"If I hadn't touched it, Velvette would have been dead by now…oh my god, Wicken, we should check on him!". Vaggie nodded, determination in both of their faces. They quickly picked up the body of the assassin, but before they could assess anything, that same body started to twitch: the arm grew back and the neck fixed itself with an ominous creaking sound. Wicken's eyes shot open and he gasped for air.

"That was intense. Never tried suffocation before, it was really painful…". Before he could finish his thought, Charlie slapped him in his face, tears still in her eyes. "You reckless idiot, why did you do that?! I specifically told you that you mustn't look for ways to end your life!".

Wicken seemed a little shocked that Charlie seemed scared and sad, and sighed. "Yeah, the contract is clear, but in that instant I was actually trying to…save your life. I guess that I was able to act because of that". The assassin himself seemed a little surprised by his own words.

What shocked him the most, however, was feeling Vaggie tackling him in a tight hug, her head dipped in his furred chest. "You saved her…you saved her…". Wicken couldn't answer that, so he just patted her head. "It was my pleasure, Hot Stuff, no need to be so melodramatic".

"That is very touching and all…" Angel Dust intervened, helping Charlie up. "...however no one is addressing the important part… what, THE FUCK, happened there?" the spider demon asked. Everyone looked at Lucifer, who apparently was the only one able to answer.

"I have seen that spell before, it is called Geass in some cultures. It is basically a constriction spell, used to bind the will of someone with a specific command or, like in this case I assume, to negate the ability to talk about or do something. If the command imposed with this spell is broken by any chance, the spell does kill the one on whom it is casted on or anyone who tries to prevent it. It is ancient and powerful magic, I can think of very few people able to do that". Lucifer concluded his explanation, then got lost in thought. Yeah, he knew very few people who would be able to produce a spell so strong even he wasn't able to break. He thought of someone he hadn't seen in a lot of time, but that couldn't be…

While Lucifer was still musing, Charlie got to Velvette. The Overlord was barely conscious and in a state of shock after what just happened, breathing frantically like she was afraid to be strangled again.

"You… ok?" the hellborn tentatively asked.

Velvette slowly turned around to look at her, still quite in a shock.

"You… coulda let me die, why riskin' ya life to save me? That doesn't make sense!"

Charlie chuckled at Velvette's remark. "That's what I do here, risking my life to save others. Although this time it's been a tad more literal than it usually is". Velvette stared at Charlie like she was mad but didn't comment further. Instead, she stayed limp as the Princess lifted her up and once again let her sit on the chair.

"Here you are. Need any water?". Velvette nodded. "You could also untie me. It's not that I'd try anything funny with that hottie around, I ain't that daft".

Charlie smirked. "Afraid of that big, scary assassin?"

"Assassin? I was talkin' about ya dad!"

Charlie looked at the overlord in shock: that was surely unexpected. It was now Velvette's turn to smirk.

"What can I say, I like older short guys. Besides, I was screwed up meself".

Charlie nodded. "Ok, I'll get some water, then I'll untie you and you will explain anything. Then we'll let you go and you can resume your life. Or stay here to get protection, your choice. Got it?".

"Yeah yeah, gotcha".

Charlie went to the barkeep, finding a clean glass and filling it with water. As she was doing that, she saw everyone else joining her; Husk took his place behind the counter, grabbed a bottle of bourbon and filled another glass.

"Need some ice for that water?" he asked softly while he was opening the fridge, fishing out some ice cubes and plopping them in the glass of bourbon.

"Yeah, thanks Husk". Then she turned to Wicken, who had just sat down together with Vaggie. The fallen angel seemed still shaken, but gave her a loving smile nonetheless, which Charlie smiled to.

"So Wicken… are you ok?". The killer nodded, massaging his neck.

"Nothing a good glass of Four Roses can't fix".

"That was still a very idiotic thing to do, next time refrain".

"No, he won't". This time, Vaggie was the one talking. Charlie looked at her girlfriend.

"But…".

"No buts Hon. For whatever reason he is impervious to death, you are not. I get you are selfless, I love you for that, but next time think before you act!".

"Hot Stuff is right, Princess. You chained my soul because I was of use to you. Then use my goddamn self as a sacrificial pawn".

Charlie growled. "I don't do sacrificial pawns". She then snatched Wicken's glass and gulped down all the remaining bourbon, ignoring the burning sensation of the alcohol in her throat. It was too bitter and strong for her taste. "And I didn't chain you to use you. Learn to value your life or I'll teach you". Charlie slammed the empty glass on the counter, took the water and went to Velvette.

"Wow… she's pissed. You really ruffled her feathers, Papa Wolf" Angel Dust commented while sipping a cocktail that Husk just prepared.

"I have that effect on people, Dusty-Boy".

"You don't get it, Wicken. She had her friend in danger two times in two days. She hates that, more than she hates having her life in danger" Vaggie explained with a serious look. She loved her girlfriend, but sometimes it frustrated her the incredible amount of selflessness and naivety that was part of her character.

"Then maybe she should just follow her own advice" Wicken replied, tapping the glass twice. Husk filled it again.

"She is not a suicidal mess, though. She values life, she just puts others before herself. Not healthy as well, but surely healthier than what you are doing" the feline bartender said.

Wicken sighed and took the glass, standing up, ignoring Husk's words. But the cat demon hadn't finished. "You've been through shit. Everyone here has been through shit. But if the Princess accepted you here despite what you were trying to do is because she saw something in you, like she saw something in all of us. Don't let it go to waste, she doesn't deserve it". The killer looked at the bartender but said nothing. Husk sighed. "The bar is always open. And I have a lot of bourbon".

Vaggie stood up. "I'll go to see how Charlie is doing. And you will come with me". The fallen angel pointed to Wicken, who simply nodded and together they went towards the chair where Charlie was still questioning Velvette.

Husk turned to his counter, looking at Angel Dust playing with his glass without drinking, a sour look on his face. "Something wrong, Spider?". Angel Dust looked at Husk with a questioning look.

"You seemed very involved, you know".

"I'm a bartender, I'm always involved".

"This time seemed…oddly personal". Husk raised his eyebrow, not knowing what Angel Dust meant.

"It's not. But in his eyes I read something I have seen in many people, even if it's been amped up to eleven".

"Oh, and what is that?". Husk didn't get why Angel Dust seemed so irritated. He pointed at the spider demon.

"Regret. Something I've seen a ton in your eyes too! ".

Angel Dust silenced himself, looking at Husk surprised. He had many regrets in his life, some of them he was still paying the consequences of. He thought that he was being able to keep most of them secret from everyone at the Hotel, but of course Husk knew. Husk always knew. And he too sometimes had a lot of harmful thoughts towards himself, but never actually contemplated ending his life over and over. He wondered what could have happened in Wicken's life for him to actively seek death so passionately.

Suddenly, the door of the hotel opened violently and Cherri Bomb appeared, bringing bags full of groceries. She was smiling, but stopped as she saw the scene of the hotel: Velvette tied up to a chair and various signs of singing on the floor.

"Did I…did I miss something?"

Yes, the cursing in Heaven is censored because of course it is. Hope you enjoy the chapter, as always if you feel like commenting feel free to do so, I always look forward to criticism, it helps improving