Day Ten

Day Ten Day Ten - Hazbin Hotel, just after midnight:

Angel Dust stood behind the bar, filling in for Husk. The feline bartender was in the nearby private room with Sera and Lute. They were still working on the fine details of Lute's impending Contract in what had now been over a fourteen-hour marathon session.

Crymini laid halfway across the bar and whined. "So much for them getting this done today. It's tomorrow already."

"Well excuse me for not knowing how to make an Old Fashioned," Angel Dust retorted.

Cherri Bomb downed the last of her drink. "I'd say how much I hate this. But I've given up on ya wankers and your Deals."

"So you've said," Crymini noted, rolling her eyes and waving her hands, "Like, ten times already."

In the parlor, Charlie and her angels were joined by Alastor, who was once again sitting in his preferred chair.

Alastor addressed Emily, "It's been over a week with no new chains broken and souls freed. Once your fallen friend has hers, I do believe your balance will be back to zero."

Emily gave him a look. "So good to have you back."

"Ha ha ha!" Alastor grinned, accompanied by a staticky laugh track. "What if I told you I'm offering to help with that?"

Charlie raised an eyebrow. "Uh... What?"

Vaggie looked immediately suspicious and ready to bring out her spear.

Emily's expression softened, ready to give him the benefit of the doubt and at least hear him out. "How?" she asked guardedly.

"I'm inviting you to attend the next time the Overlords meet," Alastor told her casually, getting shocked and concerned sounds from Emily's wives. "Carmilla would like a demonstration of your very special ability and is offering up a soul bound to her for you to free."

"There's no way that's not a trap," Vaggie warned, but immediately had second thoughts. "Although... we've had good dealings with Carmine." She stopped herself before mentioning what Emily had told them about the Overlord's recent offer.

Charlie gritted her teeth a bit, but had to add, "I trust Rosie, and she'll be there."

Alastor's eyes narrowed with the sound of a static pop.

Emily listened to her wives, then nodded to Alastor. "I'll want to talk to Mrs. Carmine first, but I would be happy to free another soul."

Alastor continued to smile, speaking genially. "Excellent. I will let her know. It may be some time, but I expect we'll have another meeting within the month. A lot has happened, after all."

At the bar, Angel Dust noted, "Charlie's got her angels, and now Husk will have his."

Crymini barked a laugh. "But he's not sleeping with his. Unless you're one of 'em."

"Ha, I wish!" Angel Dust admitted lightly. Then frowned. "But not if it requires selling my soul to him. I love the guy, but I've made that mistake once and that's enough."

The frown turned into a smirk. "But, y'know, if he just wants me in a collar and chains, I've got the gear."

Crymini blinked, snickering. "Wait, seriously?"

"Oh yeah," Cherri Bomb confirmed. "He's practically the bondage club's top client. Or was." She looked at Angel Dust, "I heard a rumor that place is getting shut down."

Angel Dust's eyes widened. "What? Why? No way. There is no way Hell doesn't have a hard-on for good BDSM."

Cherri Bomb shrugged. "Just a rumor. But if you want to get a new bondage suit, now might be the time."

Angel Dust paused, thinking. "I seriously doubt anything's gonna happen to that place, but now that I think of it, I would love to get Emily a leather suit to match Niffty's."

Cherri Bomb blinked, looking over at Emily. "What? You think she'd be into that?"

"No," Angel Dust smirked. "But she'd look hot in it. And it would piss Vagina off."

The door opened and Sera exited the private room, closing the door behind her.

Emily hopped out of her chair and ran to her.

"The Contract is written," Sera said. "All that is left is the signing. And that should be handled privately between them. However, I would like to come back tomorrow evening and check in on both of them, if that would be permissible."

Emily bounced. "Of course it is!" She heard Angel Dust clear his throat, and added, "I'll portal for you tomorrow night... well, tonight night... but it may be late. We're going out dancing this evening when I get back from Heaven."

"Dancing?" Sera asked, raising her eyebrows. "Well, I do hope you have fun, little sister."

Sera bit her lower lip, then asked, "How is Heaven?"

Emily winced and looked down. "Kinda not as wonderful as it should be," Emily admitted. "But there's a ton of hope. Angels really came together the other night, and I think it reminded everyone what being an angel really means."

She sighed. "Now, I just have to become an eighty foot tall woman and tell them that."

Angel Dust called over, "Didn't Pentious' projector blow up again?"

Emily shook her head. "No. The power substation for the Science District blew up. The projector suffered some fire damage, but Sir Pentious got that repaired earlier today... yesterday, I mean."

"They'll be moving it to the Courthouse for installation this morning and running some tests," Emily told him. "With all the safety measures installed in the power grid."

She looked up to Sera with concern. "We still don't know what happened. We don't even know if it had anything to do with Heaven's projector. But we're guessing it did since that was the only thing we know of in the Science District that was both connected and not fully tested."

But maybe it wasn't. This was the Science District Emily thought to herself. A lot of Heaven's most demanding technology is there.

"Do you have Pravuil searching the records?" Sera asked, surprised that they did not have an answer yet.

"Yes, but last I heard, he hadn't found anything," Emily admitted with a note of worry. "I'm going to Heaven in the morning to see if that's changed. Everyone's response to the disaster has renewed Heaven's sense of community. But not knowing what went wrong has a lot of angels nervous."

Vaggie interjected, "If the Exorcists caused it, Pravuil might not be able to find the record. While the Golden Library records them, it's practically impossible to find the records of an angel who doesn't have a name."

Sera gritted her teeth and winced with a tightening of her wings. "You can blame me for that."

"I'm not blaming anybody," Emily decided. "But I am going to fix it."

Vaggie turned back and looked at Alastor. "Well, these next few months ought to be very entertaining."

Alastor steepled his fingers. "Indeed." The radio distortion in his voice grew subtly. "Neither Lucifer nor Frederick have shown Hell a true display of power for very a long time. The fallout from having one of Hell's two ringmasters show what they can really do is going to be quite interesting."

Charlie chuckled and waved a dismissive hand. "Dad's the ringmaster. Frederick is just..."

"The Barnum to his Bailey?" Alastor suggested. "Or would that be the other way around?"

Before the circus metaphor argument could really engage, Vaggie derailed it by noting, "After the bombings and your fight with Valentino, the Hazbin Hotel is on war footing with the Vees. I get the feeling that by the end of the year, only one of us will be left standing."

She frowned. "The question is, do we wait and try to prepare for their attack? Or do we strike first?"

Alastor grinned.

Day Ten - Charlie's, Vaggie's and Emily's bedroom, after midnight:

The trio had finished their showers and donned their bed clothes. Vaggie set out her bow for the morning.

"Who is the middle spoon tonight?" Charlie asked.

"I think it should be you!" Emily was sitting on the bed, legs crossed with Keekee in her lap. She was petting Charlie's kitty, who purred appreciatively. "You missed your turn the other night because you were too sore."

Vaggie nodded in agreement, double-checking, "If you're up to it. Still sore?"

Charlie nodded. "A bit. But I've missed being between you."

"Even for a Morningstar, being rolled over by a limo is a lot," Vaggie noted. "Don't stress yourself."

Charlie smirked. "Sleeping between you two is the opposite of stressful." She turned and flopped backwards on the bed, not wincing. "And I don't have anything to do today!"

Keekee leapt out of Emily's lap and started climbing on Charlie.

Emily stuck out her tongue. "Well, I do. So I'm planning on a good night's sleep."

Vaggie joined them on the bed. "Looking forward to being a giant woman?" She teased before asking, "Do you know what you're going to say yet?"

Emily leaned back into the pillows. "I have some ideas." She watched Keekee boop Charlie on the nose. "Oooh, and I just had another one! You're both invited!"

Charlie gasped with happiness! "A trip to Heaven? Yes! Afterwards, we can get ice cream! And go to the zoo. Vaggie missed that last time."

Vaggie rolled her eye. "I have been to Heaven's zoo before." She sighed. "But yes, I suppose that was my do-over wish. Okay."

Charlie cheered!

Emily suggested, "Ooh, you should visit Sir Pentious' place. He has a great window. Perfect to watch the speech from. I bet Molly will be there with him too."

Vaggie cocked her head. "You don't want us to be right there with you?"

Emily laughed. "At the size I'm going to be? Wouldn't be a good view. Everyone for the block outside the Courthouse is pretty much just going to be looking up my dress."

Vaggie stared. Then slowly noted, "The fact that you can say that without the slightest hint of embarrassment..." She considered how uncomfortable and stressful things like Timothy's porn stash had made her. "I deserve to be in Hell for how much I envy you sometimes."

"Well, here you are!" Charlie said with a grin. "Okay, brushing my teeth. Then sleep. It's already tomorrow, and I suddenly have something to do today."

Charlie picked up Keekee, setting her on the floor. The bedroom door opened as Keekee's feet touched the carpet. Keekee scampered off into the hallway and out of sight.

"If watching us shower is going to be a habit, Keekee, you need to lock the door to our bedroom behind you," Charlie commented as she walked over to close and relock the door.

Vaggie chuckled. "Hey, look at the bright side. You have any idea how many cat owners would kill to have a cat who takes care of its in-or-out indecision itself?"

Charlie gave her a smiling look and headed off to the bathroom for one last pre-sleeping chore.

Vaggie motioned for her other wife to scoot closer. "Hey, Emily," she whispered, already blushing. "I was wondering..."

Emily giggled, "Yyyyyyeeessss?"

"I'm not asking for tonight," Vaggie started, a little nervous. She had asked Sera something like this the other night, and the former High Seraphim just rolled her eyes and focused on her piano practice.

Vaggie tapped her fingers together. "But you know how we all orgasm together, sharing in the intensity of those orgasms - intensity you have to 'restrain' to keep it from being too much..."

Emily nodded. "Go on."

"Is it possible to, maybe, exercise that restraint for just the two of us? Just, y'know, so we could make a night out of focusing on driving her wild?" Vaggie nodded her head towards Charlie. "Another time, of course. Maybe... today's tonight?"

"OOOoooh! That sounds fun!" Emily giggled again and whispered, "I could tamp down extra on the two of us so we could really focus on her. But that would shift all that extra intensity into Charlie. It would be several times more intense for her than normal."

Vaggie's eye went wide, her blush intensifying. "Ohyespleasedothat!"

Day Ten - Airspace above the Hazbin Hotel, late morning:

"I can't believe I'm doing this."

He strongly preferred not leaving the house. But Asmodeus asked, and he just couldn't say no. Despite the whole thing being sus as Hell. Ozzie said this might be good for him, whatever the fuck that meant. And traveling to another Ring to conduct an interview as a house call? Who does that?

"Well, me apparently," Fizzarolli thought aloud.

From the cockpit in front of him, the helicopter pilot called back, "Approaching the Hazbin Hotel. It's built on a slope, so we'll be at a tilt when we set down."

Fizzarolli could see his reflection in the window as he looked out. The hotel was bright and impressively gaudy with a hodgepodge of motifs. He rather liked it. "That will be fine. He reached over and flipped a series of switches, kicking on the fanfare. Blaring music, a sixteen-laser light show, and confetti cannons loaded with condoms in a variety of colors (and flavors)! The music was an earlier work. Somehow, "Two Minutes Notice" didn't feel like the right way to kick off a job interview.

Fizzarolli smiled. A bit of a low-key entrance, but this was a job interview, so it should remain dignified.

As Asmodeus' helicopter touched down, Fizzarolli grabbed his briefcase before it could slide away. The tilt was crazy.

He slid open his door and stepped out. Sliding the door closed again, he paused to check his reflection in the mirrored glass of the window. In keeping with the seriousness of an interview, he was wearing a suit-like outfit vaguely Lucifer-inspired and much better suited to business than his normal get-up. His jester hat didn't even have any jingling bells today.

He turned and walked up to the hotel, pausing to watch a small, flying goat-demon changing the lettering on the marquee. Which was totally a thing hotels have.

Then he walked in the front door.

A lobby full of people turned to look at him in surprise. And even for Hell, it was a motley collection.

Fizzarolli immediately recognized Charlotte Morningstar, the daughter of Lucifer Himself. (Easy, really. She shared his unique complexion.) And he spotted the guy he was here for. The two angels were quite a surprise though.

Lucifer's daughter had the most immediate reaction, grinning brightly enough to put the Living World's sun to shame. "Oh! A new guest!" She jumped out of her chair like it was an ejector seat and started to run towards him, only to stop short, unsure. "Oh... It's... one of those sex robots?"

Here we go.

Fizzarolli put on a big smile. "Not this one! I'm the original! The one and only Fizzarolli!" He added quickly, "Those robotic replicas are designed based on me."

He danced into the parlor and took a bow before Lucifer's daughter, taking her hand and giving it a quick kiss. "Thank you for hosting, Miss Morningstar!"

Lucifer's daughter blushed slightly. "Oh! Um... you're welcome. Call me Charlie."

Fizzarolli straightened up. "I'm here to talk to Angel Dust?" He looked around and spotted the guy again. Tall, lanky fellow who looked exactly like his promotional materials, except far more nervous. "Got a private room?"

Charlie nodded, smiling. "We have several private rooms connected to the parlor. Take any one you wish. The first one has a long table and chairs for multiple people, but I guess there's only the two of you. The second has a wonderful painting of my mom..."

As Charlie began to expound on the amenities of each choice, Fizzarolli suddenly had a face full of angel. "Welcome! You'll love Angel Dust! And I can totally give him a super good reference. I mean, he saved me! And kinda just saved Heaven!"

"I... um, what?" Fizzarolli took a step back. Trying to find his footing, he asked, "Are you that big angel who fell to Sloth? I imagined you'd be a lot taller."

"Oh no," the angel said brightly, waving her hands. "That's my sister."

Fizzarolli looked over towards the other one who was sitting at the bar, trying to ignore him. "Her?"

"Nope, that's Lute," the angel told him. "She's also a fallen angel, but not the one you're thinking of. My sister isn't here yet, but she'll be coming by later. Oh, I'm Emily. Although you can..."

"Hey, E? Let the guy go interview Angie, okay?" a cyclopean demon suggested.

"Oh! Yes! Sorry," Emily fluttered back. "I need to be going anyway. Pravuil is probably waiting." The angel turned and pointed towards the front door, making a little circular motion with a finger. A portal opened, and Fizzarolli saw fucking Heaven on the other side.

"Whoa..." The implications hit him. "Wait, you've got an actual unfallen angel staying here?"

"Yep!" Charlie said, practically glowing. "She's my wife."

Fizzarolli's brow furrowed. "What?"

"Well, one of them. Although Vaggie's also an unfallen angel, so really we have two. And they're both my wives!" Charlie began to bounce and squee slightly at the thought, especially as Emily blew her a kiss.

Emily waved to everyone and stepped through the golden portal. The view of Heaven collapsed with a holy flash.

The cyclopean demon interjected, "Her other wife, Vaggie, is with Niffty in the hot tub room. They're making sure it's clean and ready for tonight. Oh wait..."

A woman strode in, looking around. In her hand was a spear whose metal tip glowed with a slight silvery light. "Angel Dust! Do the Vees have a helicopter? One just landed outside!"

"That's my interview," the lanky spider demon called over to her as he walked up to Fizzarolli. "Cool your jets, Vagina. We're all good here."

Angel Dust motioned towards one of the rooms. "Let's get someplace private before..."

A puppy-like demon who couldn't physically be more than twenty ran in. "Guys! There's a helicopter outside raining condoms! It... oh cool! A Fizzbot!"

"Too late," Angel Dust chuckled. "Really sorry about this. Usually people knock and it's easier to keep them from getting clobbered by the whole menagerie."

"Knock?" Fizzarolli questioned. "Who knocks at a hotel?"

"You'd be surprised," Angel Dust replied as he led Fizzarolli into a private room. It had a large oil painting of Lilith with a young Charlie on her lap, attended by two small goat demons. One of whom he suspected was the one changing the marquee outside.

Fizzarolli took a seat. As soon as Angel Dust was sitting as well, he cleared his throat. "I guess... let's start by you telling me about your last job?"

Day Ten - Heaven's Court, Heaven, noon:

Molly sat with Emily in the High Seraphim's office, looking over a completely revised idea for the High Seraphim's speech. Molly could see how uncomfortable Emily was in her sister's old room. Unfortunately, it would likely be a while before she could move into her Hell-side office. By Emily's insistence, all the Heavenly building materials being produced by angels right now were dedicated to rebuilding the blocks of the Science District that were devastated by the calamity.

Molly stretched, needing a little break. "Any word about the angel plague?" she asked hopefully.

Emily nodded. "Curie says they are working on a cure." She added, a little melancholy, "They're using the small sample from Victor. The blood Pentious took from Crymini was stored in a refrigerator that was without power for half a day."

Molly wasn't certain if it was the news or the room that was affecting Emily's mood, but suspected it was more the latter. "We should get out of here. Even if the Embassy isn't ready, I think you'll be happier and do better work outside than in this room."

Emily nodded.

Soon, they were walking out of the Courthouse. Pravuil met them on the steps outside.

"Any luck?" Emily asked the head of the Golden Library and recorder for the Court.

Pravuil's rings spun, his voice reverberating from within. "Yes. I now know who was responsible. We owe thanks to your friend, Sir Pentious. It might have taken decades to find the records if he had not given her a name."

Molly saw Emily's face fall. They both knew without Pravuil needing to say it. Amelia.

Emily closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. "She came to me for help, and I told her I could do nothing." She opened her eyes again, looking at Molly. "She was terrified and desperate. So she tried to do something herself."

"Fudge sundaes," Molly said. "She was standing right there when Pentious said the machine was ready." It was the worst possible news. An Exorcist did it. Molly felt the fragile healing that started two days ago might be about to be undone.

Emily looked to Pravuil. "Where is she now?"

"In her home," the angelic scribe answered. "What do you wish done, High Seraphim?"

Molly watched Emily, feeling her anxiety build.

Emily closed her eyes again. Then opened all of them, taking on her full seraphim form. "Bury it."

Molly could not help but gasp.

"Bury it under a decade-long wait period and a signed waiver from the High Seraphim," Emily clarified. "I'll have the Proclamation to you within the hour."

Pravuil reverberated, "As you command, High Seraphim."

Molly watched Pravuil fly off. She moved to her friend, asking worriedly, "And if someone asks for such a waiver?"

"I'll give it to them." Emily sighed, but her stance was resolute. "Personally. It will give us a chance to talk." Molly immediately understood this was as close as Emily could force herself to come to keeping the truth a secret.

Molly cautioned, "Emily, if we can't give them a cause and show how we are correcting it, angels will be right to worry that it could happen again."

Emily looked down. "I know. I'll give them one."

Day Ten - Hazbin Hotel private room, noon:

"I couldn't help but note that a lot of your films include bondage," Fizzarolli said as he pulled out a glossy print that Angel Dust immediately recognized. "This here made me wince. That does not look comfortable."

Angel Dust didn't need to more than glance at it. "I wasn't supposed to look comfortable. It was a rape scene, and I'm a good actor." He added, "Any actual discomfort right then had nothing to do with the bondage and everything to do with that being hour fourteen of a sixteen-hour workday."

Fizzarolli winced slightly. "Yikes. That happen often?"

"Whenever Valentino felt like it," Angel Dust retorted, a bit of sourness creeping into his voice. Only to go away with his next words. "Valentino barely gave a shit about us. But the rest of us watched out for each other. Most of the crew was good, and we always double-checked the work of the ones who weren't. That bondage, for example? Far more comfortable than it looks."

His semi-robotic interviewer nodded. "Good to hear. Cuz Ozzie is all about safe, consensual kink."

Angel Dust nodded, happy to hear that. But his brow furrowed as a thought reoccurred to him. "Y'know, I still don't actually know what the job is."

Fizzarolli blinked. Then laughed. He pulled out a poster, unfurling it. "Know this place?"

Angel Dust knew it before more than two inches of it were visible. He didn't need to read it to know what it said: No bond stronger than those formed through bondage. "You could say that. Y'know, I actually tried taking Charlie and the gang there once." He paused. "Why?"

Fizzarolli raised an eyebrow. "Okay, her in a catsuit? I kinda want to see that."

Angel Dust chuckled. "Well, she didn't. But I've got pictures of our angel Em in one." He fished out his phone.

"The unfallen angel? In a catsuit? Okay, this I have to see. I mean, not my type, but..." He leaned forward a little, looking at the pictures. "Holy catsuit! How is it that form-fitting?" He sat back. "Anyway, Asmodeus has invested in this place."

"So it's not closing down," Angel Dust said.

"Just for a few weeks. For renovations," Fizzarolli clarified. "Ozzie's helping the folks who run it do a big expansion. And they need people. Including someone who knows how to use this gear safely and correctly, and doesn't have a problem doing so in live demonstrations and the occasional product show."

Angel Dust found himself grinning. "Well damn, I'm your guy. I know all their products!"

The cyborg imp double-checked, "And you enjoy bondage? It's not just an act for the camera?"

Angel Dust nodded. "I performed a lot of kinks and made them look good. Even ones I hated, like Val's waterboarding phase. But this is something I'm actually into. I wouldn't have dragged my friends there if it wasn't."

Fizzarolli's eyes widened. "Wait. That fucker was waterboarding you?!" He stood up, thrusting out his arms. "And you didn't quit?!"

Angel Dust grimaced. "Like I said, he owned my soul. I couldn't quit. Not until Em destroyed the Contract. I quit that very second."

Fizzarolli's arms dropped. He slowly sat back down. "I get it now."

"Get what?" Angel Dust asked.

"The whole, this might be good for me thing," he said. "Interview's over. You've got the job. Now, if you're not in a rush somewhere, mind if I vent to you a bit about my last boss?"

Day Ten - Outskirts of Pentagram City, noon:

Lightning flashed across clouds covering the red midday sky. Acid rain showered the city limits. It rained down on the black and malachite limo.

Niffty sat on the trunk, playing the guitar that Seviathan had summoned. He stepped up next to her, holding an umbrella for the two of them.

"I really like you," Niffty told him as she played. "You're fun. And you're bad."

Seviathan grinned. "Why do I sense a 'but' coming?"

Niffty shifted to a minor key. "I don't ship us in my head."

"Ah," Seviathan said. "Well, nothing to be done about that then." He chuckled. "I mean, it's not like we didn't try." After a pause, he added, "I thought you liked the tentacles."

"I really like the tentacles!" Niffty admitted.

"So no more dating. Still friends though?" Seviathan asked, leaning against the von Eldritch limo. "We could still hang out."

"Still friends." Niffty nodded, her fingers strumming a brighter chord. She leaned towards him, smiling. "Or, if you want, friends with benefits."

Seviathan grinned back at her. She liked him. And he liked her. And she really liked the tentacles.

Niffty continued to play the guitar, and the sky continued to rain.

Day Ten - Charlie's, Vaggie's and Emily's bedroom, afternoon:

Charlie stood alone in her bedroom, biting at the cap of one of her new dry-erase markers. The green one.

The whiteboard and dry erase markers were a good choice for this. The diagram helped sort her thoughts. The colors, as always, helped keep everything engaging and pretty. And unlike usual, this time she wanted to be able to erase.

There were seven boxes along the top. The first three were labeled: Alastor, Victor, Mom. The other four all had question marks.

Beside the line of boxes on the right, she had written: At least seven.

On the left, she had written:

Sinners powerful on arrival

Disappeared 7 1/2 years ago

Coming back?

That last one was in a different color, because she was not sure about it.

Each box on the top row had a line down to a box below. On that line, all of the boxes had question marks except for one. The line from Victor's box led to a box labeled Cage, L+F.

To the side of that line of boxes, she had written:

Where?

How?

By who?

And below that: All different?

Alastor said those things appeared to always be different. But he didn't say he knew how each of the first row vanished. That was the first mistake she caught in her thinking, leading to her first erasure.

From each of those seven boxes, another line descended. This time to the bottom, to a big circle with another question mark. And beside it: The Puppetmaster?

She didn't like that name. It made a lot of assumptions. Including that there was just one. Charlie could only conceive of two possibilities for who or what could be behind the puzzle Alastor gave her a glimpse of: something from very high Above or very far Below. But was it an Elder Above? A Power Below? One of each, working together? Or, maybe, fighting each other.

To one side, she had written: The Final Game?

Either way, the unknown in the circle was why her mother was missing. All these years, she had told herself that her mother was off doing important things. Even after it began to ring as hollow as when her dad said that. For years, she had dreaded looking too hard for answers because she feared her mother may have simply abandoned Hell. Abandoned her. And she didn't think she could take that.

Until a couple days ago, until that scary talk with Alastor, she had never considered her mother might have been captured. She might be a prisoner somewhere, trapped in a cage of her own. Like Victor was.

Charlie refused to consider the other, even darker, possibility. She had to keep hope.

And she had to be smart about this.

Charlie uncapped the green marker and made a circle around Victor's box with a note: The False Horseman. And put a question mark next to the line that descended from Cage, L+F to the bottom circle. After all, Seviathan and Alastor both hinted that Victor might be another party's attempt to play.

"Hey Charlie! Ready to go to Heaven to see your giant wife?"

Charlie jumped. She turned to see Vaggie smiling in the doorway. "I'll be right down!" she called to Vaggie with a smile. Then started gathering up the dry erase markers.

She looked back at the whiteboard. She hated how many question marks there were. She tried to think, focusing on the first row. Alastor hadn't told her what happened to him. That was Deal territory. She knew about Victor, and her mother was still a mystery. And then, there were four complete unknowns. At least. All she knew about them was that Alastor knew about them.

Four.

Charlie pulled out another marker. Burnt umber, it said. Orange-brown. She pulled the cap and circled the remaining four. And wrote: The Real Horsemen?

That was a wild guess. But it felt really good to her. Like she was being smart and making progress. She carefully slid the whiteboard behind her dresser so that Vaggie and Emily wouldn't find it, and put away the eraser and markers. Then turned to leave.

Charlie was nearly to her bedroom door when she was struck by something Husk said. She turned and walked back, pulling out the whiteboard, the eraser and the burnt umber marker again. She erased The Puppetmaster. It was a terrible name. And she had one better. She wrote it in the vacated space:

The Root

She smiled, happy with that. The whole thing did kinda look like a bush.

Day Ten - Heaven, afternoon:

Angels across all of Heaven looked upwards to the image of their High Seraphim, projected over Heaven's Courthouse. Angels of all forms set aside what they were doing, came out of their homes, took to the air or gathered in the golden streets to witness their new High Seraphim. In Sir Pentious' studio loft, Charlie and Vaggie stood alongside him and Molly, staring out through the grand window.

Charlie's and Vaggie's hands found each other as they watched their other wife address all of Heaven.

"Good afternoon, angels of Heaven," Emily said, standing before them, radiant in her full seraphim glory. "I love you all. And I apologize for having taken so long to talk to all of you. With the turmoil these last weeks, with my sister's fall..." There was the slightest tremble in her voice at that, "...and my appointment to her position as well as continuing my own, I should have taken the time. I am grateful for the patience you have shown me."

Emily sighed, looking down. "I am far from perfect. But then, nobody is." She lifted her face again. "Angels are not perfect. We make mistakes. You only need to look at the events of the last several weeks to see the proof."

"I wished to appear before you today to tell you that everything is going to be okay, and we're all going to be fine..."

Emily paused, then closed her eyes and bowed her head. Her voice grew heavy. "But I am not fine. I am not okay. My sister's fall has left me distraught. My Ambassadorship to Hell has required subjecting myself to violence, depravity and horror that I was not mentally prepared to face or equipped to handle. And while dealing with these things as best I could, I have made mistakes."

"One of those mistakes hurt a lot of angels and cost Heaven multiple blocks of the Science District."

The admission sent a shockwave through the angels of Heaven. In Sir Pentious' loft, Molly gasped. Charlie and Vaggie stared in disbelief, Charlie's free hand rose to her mouth while Vaggie squeezed her other one tightly.

"Sssssshe's taking the blame," Sir Pentious whispered.

Emily's lips quivered. "I beg your forgiveness." Her voice cracked a little. "I am so, so, so, so sorry that I caused such damage and hurt. But... apologies are not enough."

Emily shifted out of her full seraphim form, tears in her eyes. "I can only pray for your forgiveness. And promise I am doing what I have to... what I should have done before... to make sure I don't make a mistake like that again."

Emily took a breath. "Starting with delegating much of my duties as High Seraphim to angels of the Court with more experience. But this is a measure I knew was needed even before my actions led to such a disaster. I need to do more."

"So, starting yesterday," Emily assured the angels of Heaven, "I am in therapy. With one of Heaven's many blessed and skilled therapists. And I will continue to do so for as long as I need help. Which, given that I am continuing my role as Ambassador to Hell, may be forever."

She stopped, wiping her eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't practice this or anything. I really should have." She took several deep breaths, centering herself.

"I am also correcting another mistake," Emily pressed on. "I have reinstated some of the restrictions on accessing records of the Exterminations from the Golden Library. The facts of those events will never be concealed. We will not sweep Heaven's evils under a proverbial rug. But I know from experience how just being witness to an atrocity can have profound and unexpected effects on an angel's psyche. So I am putting these restrictions in place to avoid spreading trauma."

Emily took a deep breath and drew herself up. "By the same token, I am disbanding the Exorcists. Those angels who authorized or led the Exterminations are dead or fallen. It is not our place to judge those who are left. That is the role of the Throne. We are angels. We help those in need, and show compassion and mercy. To those angels who were Exorcists: you will be given a name, new Heavenly raiments, and an avenue for therapy of your own."

Emily knew there was another topic, closely related, that the good souls of Heaven had been patiently waiting for their new High Seraphim to address. "I know many, many of you want to see Heaven do something to start making up for the horrible things we did to those in Hell. I cannot express how moved I am by all those who volunteered to help in any way you can. Thank you."

"The first thing we hope to offer through the Heaven Embassy is a chance to reconnect with loved ones you are separated from by the afterlife. But this is something we will have to approach cautiously, ensuring both parties desire this and there are support systems in place for angels who need it afterwards. Perhaps more vitally, we are going to arrange for the souls seeking redemption through the Hazbin Hotel to receive therapy provided through the Heaven Embassy." Emily smiled. "And I really, really hope this will just be a first step in helping."

Emily fell quiet again. She looked out over Heaven. "Two days ago, an angel came to me. One who had made a mistake of her own and was fearful of falling. She begged to know how she could show that she still deserved to be here in Heaven. At that moment, I didn't have an answer."

"That night, you showed me that answer. You came together, helping those in need. What was a disaster became a shining moment revealing the true nature of angels. Continue to embrace that, and the Heaven you love will never be lost to you."

Emily beamed at the angels of Heaven.

Her smile softens. "Again, I am so, so, so sorry that I haven't been better. But I'm learning to be, and getting the help that I need. Which, happily, includes my two wives, Charlie and Vaggie. Who I love more than anything."

"Thank you for your time. Heaven bless all of you."

Angels found themselves staring at the space where the giant image of their High Seraphim used to be.

In the loft of Sir Pentious, three angels and the daughter of Lucifer looked to each other as they drank in Emily's speech.

"That wassssss unexpected," Sir Pentious noted, cautiously.

Molly nodded. "I... think it was what we needed though."

Charlie whispered, "I love her."

"So do I." Vaggie turned to Charlie. "Good thing, since she just proclaimed our marriage to all of Heaven."

Day Ten - Heaven's Court, late afternoon:

Emily flapped her wings again, trying to shake off the post-speech jitters like the water from a shower. She stomped a foot, annoyed with herself that she was feeling nervous after the speech. Not that she didn't before. But this was her emotions being silly.

"Good show, Emily!" an angel called out, waving. "And thank you. I really hope I can see my sister down there."

Emily waved back. "I hope so too!"

She'd gotten some odd responses, especially from Court angels. But Heaven's reaction seemed positive.

"Congratulations on the marriage!" another called out. "You should bring them by the Court!"

Emily blinked. "But... they've been here?" Her eyes widened as she realized a lot of the Court was probably just now realizing she was in a relationship with Lucifer's daughter and her angelic partner. No wonder there were looks. And some hadn't put it together yet. This was going to make time at the cafe fun for a few weeks.

She looked around to see Thomas approaching her. "Hello Thomas! I... uh... how did I do?"

"High Seraphim, I need your signature for something." Thomas handed her a datapad.

Emily took it with an inward cringe. Heaven had too much paperwork, no matter how much some angels liked it. "Are you sure I'm the angel you need? You heard that I was delegating most of this stuff, right?"

Thomas nodded. "According to Pravuil, I need your signature and I have to wait ten years in order to see the records regarding the Science District disaster for myself."

Emily sighed. Because of course you have doubts.

"Yes you do," Emily said. "I hope a decade is enough of a wait. Heaven has wounds that are just beginning to heal. I don't want angels reopening those needlessly, hurting themselves and others. Until then, the truth without the raw visuals will have to do." Emily looked over the request on the datapad.

Emily signed at the bottom with holy light. But held onto the datapad a moment longer. "In ten years, you will be given access to two records. To help assuage your need, I will tell you now what you will see on those. The first will show an angel turning on the new Heavenly projector before the safeguards were properly installed. The second will show that same angel coming to me hours earlier in a state of severe distress and begging for help. But instead of giving them the help they needed, it will show me saying something stupid and sending them on their way."

Emily shifted to her full seraphim form. "That angel was not in their right mind when they activated the device. They were in a state of panic that I. Put. Them. In!"

"And for their sake, as much as yours and all of Heaven's, I'm not opening the doors to them being persecuted for my fuckup!"

Emily thrust the datapad back at Thomas, who took it with a slight tremble. She watched him walk away.

When I get home, I need to let Husk know he was absolutely right about vulgarity.

Emily was surprised when Thomas turned back around. "Oh... um... one other question, if you will indulge it, High Seraphim?"

Emily groaned inwardly but nodded. "How else may I help you?"

Thomas bit his lower lip. "No, no help needed. I was just... several of us, actually... we were wondering..."

Emily raised her eyebrows.

"You may wish to make sure the projector is working properly before using it again?" he offered.

Emily's brow furrowed.

"...Or does your Heavenly raiment not include undergarments?"

Wait, what?

Emily closed her eyes, doing a quick assessment.

Oh holy wafers!

She extended her arms and altered her Heavenly raiment with a flash of light. "Thank you, Thomas."

Day Ten - Lute's bedroom, early evening:

Charlie swung the door open with enthusiasm. "And this will be your room!"

Lute's eyes widened a moment, stunned that Charlie was giving her a room of her own. She was still a prisoner, even if her chain was invisible, so she had somehow expected guards.

"This is your bed. And this is your dresser," Charlie danced around, showing her obvious details. "That door is to the bathroom."

Lute looked about slowly as Charlie gave a tour of the obvious. The room may have been several steps down from her quarters as Adam's lieutenant. But many steps up from the cell she expected. Much less the von Eldritch cage or Victor's clinic. A deep, panic ripped through her just at the thought, leaving her shaking.

Charlie's disarming smile and exuberance felt so out of place. "And that door is to your closet. It is a walk-in. We'll get you more clothes next week. Have you ever been in a closet?"

"What?" Lute asked, startled.

"Emily said she'd never been in one," Charlie said, appearing blissfully unaware of the double-entendre.

Unbelievable, she thought, then corrected herself. No, actually, I believe it.

"Your room's on the first floor," Charlie noted, "So no need to worry about the elevator."

And at the far end of the hall, Lute noted. Away from the other guests.

For their sake or mine?

The fallen angel walked into the room.

"I'll... leave you to it!" Charlie said after an awkward pause. "If you need me, I'll be in the parlor. And don't forget, when the others come back from dancing, we're going to try out the hot tub!"

"Although I guess you've already done that." Charlie gave a little dismissive wave. "But this is with other people. It will be fun!"

Lute looked at her with shock. I'm invited? "Are you sure you want me there? The others would have more fun without me."

Charlie winced a little, clearly unable to deny that. "Yes. You're invited."

"I... I'll consider it," Lute lied. She had no intention of doing so. She needed a break. And she had no doubt they needed a break from her.

"Great! Hope to see you there!" Charlie scooted off.

Lute stared around her for a long time. Eventually, she moved to the bathroom, looking at the unfamiliar woman in the mirror.

Her hand went to her neck. She was not a seraphim. She could not just see her own chain and collar. But she knew they were there. She felt their weight.

A way to not be a complete monster until I can learn to be a good person.

Something she had once believed she was. Until the Elders Above stripped that lie away cruelly. Like all the other lies.

The idea that this place, that these demons, could help her was as asinine as it was insane. But she could not deny they were better souls than she.

Far, far, far better.

And they believed that she could, as "little miss sunshine and rainbows" put it, be better.

Lute's introspection was interrupted by a knock at her open door. She turned to see Hell's other fallen angel stooping a bit to look in.

"Sera?" Lute asked, utterly unsure how she should address the former High Seraphim, or what their relationship should be. "I thought you lived in Sloth."

"I do," Sera stated. "I just came back to check on you." She paused. "And for a piano lesson." After another moment of thought, Sera added, "Although the Daughter of... sorry, Charlie has invited me to join in the hot tub later this evening. I am considering taking her up on that."

"Seriously?" Lute asked, acutely aware that she was not considering it but had claimed the same.

"Yes," Sera said. "It sounds relaxing. And... fun."

Lute nodded. "I believe I will stay in my room."

"May I come in?" Sera asked. Lute nodded, and the former High Seraphim ducked more, moving through the doorway.

Inside the room, she could straighten up. But Sera chose to sit. On the bed, as the chairs were not sized for her.

Lute stared a moment, then said, "Despite the shirt the other day, I'm not doing fine."

"Oh thank god," Sera breathed.

Lute was taken aback for a moment, but she swiftly remembered Emily's "matching" shirt.

"Not in that sense either," Lute clarified with a grimace. "I..." She started, then stopped.

Sera seemed to understand. "I cannot say this existence will take getting used to when I am not convinced that will happen."

Lute shook her head, glaring at nothing. At everything. "I can't believe all this. Us. Here. With them. Being helped by them."

She looked back at the stranger in the mirror. "I remember my time before the Elders," Lute confessed, drawing a shocked gasp from Sera, who briefly opened all her unholy eyes. "I shouldn't, but I do."

"How? Why?" Sera was reeling. "Why would They do that?"

"It was the abomination, Frederick." Lute told her. "He made me relive it. I saw what was at the core of me. I have been vile."

What is at the core of a mass-murdering angel?

"I can't blame anyone else." Lute turned from the mirror before it made her see tears. She had already seen enough of herself. "The one who deserves my hate is me."

Sera looked down, away from her. But then she turned back, looking into Lute's eyes. "These people here are good souls. Better than I ever imagined they could be. Let them help. You'll be better for it."

Lute could hear it in her voice. This wasn't just hope. Somehow, despite having only been here a couple days longer, Sera was speaking from experience.

Well, we do have the same keeper.

"How are they not in Heaven?"

Sera did not offer an answer. The silence weighed down on them.

Lute finally broke it, her eyes shifting. "Speaking of, have you told them about Lilith yet?"

Sera frowned. "No. But I will," she promised.

After a moment, she explained, "I have been waiting for the right time. I tried once, but we were interrupted. And since then, I haven't had a chance to tell Charlie directly when she wasn't... already emotional. And she should hear it from me first."

"You're in for a long wait," Lute said flatly.

Sera reconsidered. "I'll tell her tonight."

Lute grimaced. "I went to meet her," she confessed. "After Adam died. I tried to order her to come down here and stop Charlie. Thought she was threatening Heaven."

Lute gave a bitter laugh. "Turns out, we were."

"I had guessed that was why you were late returning," Sera said. "What did she say?"

"She told me to go to Hell," Lute answered.

Sera lifted her hands. "Well, here we are."

"Here we are," Lute agreed.

Day Ten - Charlie's, Vaggie's and Emily's bedroom, late evening.

Vaggie sat on the bed and cautiously opened the package Angel Dust gave her. "If this is pornographic..."

"What is that?" Charlie asked as Vaggie's voice pulled her attention away from her dresser.

"Something Angel Dust ordered for me. He said he was waiting for the 'right time' to give it to me." Vaggie squeezed the packaging. "Feels like clothing."

Emily was in the bathroom, putting on something new of her own. Not out of any sense of modesty but apparently because she wanted it to be a surprise.

The bathroom door opened and Emily danced in. "What do you think?"

Vaggie turned to look and just stopped.

The thing Emily was wearing was easily as skintight as her catsuit, and there was less of it. What existed covered her torso and wrapped in bands around her legs, all in a zig-zag pattern of silver and holographic chrome.

Vaggie knew she was blushing. She could feel her heart hammer. She would very much like to share Emily with Charlie right now and no one else.

"You're wearing that dancing?" Vaggie thought very spear-shaped thoughts at Angel Dust. "It's practically a bunny suit."

Emily blinked at that response. Then giggled. "Oh! It does come with ears and a tail, but I turned them off. I was worried they wouldn't work right with my halo."

"Correction: it's literally a bunny suit!" Vaggie huffed. "Que cabrón, I'm going to beat Angel Dust for putting you in that."

Emily looked confused. "I dressed myself."

"How'd you put it on?" Vaggie asked in mild exasperation. "A paintbrush?!" She looked to her other partner. "Charlie, help me out here."

"Oh My GOSH! Emily! You look AMAZING!" Charlie said, fists under her chin and squeeing like a bottle rocket. "That looks so good on you!"

Vaggie sighed. There would be no stopping this.

"Charlie's right," Vaggie admitted. "You look... sexy as fuck, and I'm feeling jealous that we aren't getting you all to ourselves."

Emily bounced happily! "Thank you, Vaggie!"

Charlie moved over to Vaggie and sat next to her, putting an understanding hand on her thigh. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Vaggie nodded. "Sorry. That's going to take more than a couple weeks to train out."

Emily danced, spinning again, then skipped over and gave Vaggie a hug. "Thank you!"

"I love you both!" the seraphim said, waving. "See you when we get back!"

And with that, she was out the door.

Charlie watched her go. "That outfit is... a lot... but it really is for dancing."

Vaggie looked at her with a dubious raised eyebrow.

"I got it for her when we were in Pole Position to get out of the rain," Charlie added.

Vaggie suddenly remembered the bags from Charlie's and Emily's impromptu shopping when they followed her to the Lust Ring. "Uhhh..."

"It was really cool of you to mail that package for Angel Dust," Charlie announced. "He got the job!"

"Yeah. I kinda guessed that when I saw him sharing drinks with his interviewer at the bar," Vaggie said. "I would have asked, but those two and Husk were deep in conversation, and I didn't want to interrupt."

Charlie looked at Vaggie's package, still not fully opened. "Come on, Vaggie. I'm sure it won't bite."

Vaggie sighed and tore the packing open, pulling out... a swimsuit? Vaggie held it up. The thing was a gothic, black one-piece with spider-web mesh and a very decent amount of front covering. With a nearly indecent lack thereof on the back that practically begged her to show off her wings.

"This is because of the death story," Vaggie said, understanding now, unsure if she should regret having admitted she'd been a bit of a goth. She looked at Charlie and immediately decided she didn't regret it at all.

Charlie was looking at it with an adoring expression.

"I... don't dress like this anymore, babe."

Charlie waved her hand a little. "That's okay, neither do I. But I'd love to see you in that! Tonight, for the hot tub?"

And that would be the timing. "Sure. If you want me to," Vaggie said with a soft smile. Then her brow furrowed. "Wait, what do you mean, neither do you?"

"Oh, I had an emo phase," Charlie said, rolling her eyes. "I grew out of it, but I can still really appreciate the look."

Vaggie felt stunned. "You had...?" She blinked. "An emo phase. You!?"

The paralysis passed, consumed with a whole new need. "I absolutely want to see that! Please tell me you have pictures!"

"What? No! Of course not..." Charlie insisted quickly.

"Then Lucifer will!" Vaggie said with a grin. "I'm totally calling your dad about this!"

Within seconds, the two were playfully wrestling on their bed, ostensibly for Charlie's phone.

Day Ten - Streets of Pentagram City, early night:

The new Morningstar limo made its way into Missi Zella's part of town. Inside, four demons and an angel were dressed in new outfits and in high spirits.

Angel Dust took advantage of the opportunity to play with the new Morningstar limo's partition window. It was nice having Razzle back. Angel Dust did not like driving. Or maybe he just didn't like driving limos.

"So, E," Cherri Bomb asked, "Ya ever been to a nightclub before?"

Emily noted, "I watched all of you at Consent, remember." She added, "Except Crymini."

"Watching isn't the same," Husk noted. "Ever been out dancing?"

Emily nodded. "Molly took me to Head of a Pin on one of our dates. But I'm guessing dance clubs in Hell are different than the one in Heaven."

Angel Dust chuckled. "I don't know which amuses me more. That Heaven only has one dance club? Or its name."

"Congrats again on the job, Angie," Cherri Bomb said. "We're celebrating tonight!"

"Damn straight we are," Angel Dust cheered.

Husk asked, "You gonna be seeing that Fizzarolli fellow again? That kind of shared past is worth bonding over."

Angel Dust shrugged. "We're going to keep in touch. Kinda hard to do more than that. He's practically a shut-in and I can't leave the Pride Ring."

"That's what the internet's for," Crymini noted.

Cherri Bomb looked at the puppy demon. "I'll admit, I never imagined ya wearing anything like that," she said. The girl now had wrist manacles with broken chains to match her collar. And that was the only part of the outfit that gelled with Cherri Bomb's vision of Crymini's fashion sense.

"Don't get me wrong, it works on you in ways it absolutely shouldn't. But pink plaid was just never on my radar."

Crymini smirked and shot Angel Dust a look. "When spider boy threatened me with checkers, I decided it was a challenge."

Crymini looked over Angel Dust and asked Cherri Bomb, "Given Angel and the angel, my drip barely makes the top three most surprising."

"Toots, I've been wearing dresses longer than you have."

"With feathers on the sleeves?" Crymini asked. "You pretending to be a seraphim too?"

Emily giggled brightly. "My big brother!" She paused. Then quickly shook her head. "Wait, no, that would make Molly my sister, and... nope!"

Crymini cocked her head. "Why is that nope?"

"Molly and Emily dated," Cherri Bomb told her.

The limo slowed as the street became crowded near Klub Kaiju.

"Might be faster to pull over and walk the rest of the way," Angel Dust suggested.

Day Ten - Carmine Residence, early night:

Carmilla Carmine responded to the chiming at her door. The security camera was showing only static, which told her who to expect on the other side. She opened her door.

"Alastor?" Carmilla was surprised by the visitation. "What brings you here?"

"Just a friendly visit," Alastor said, his voice as distorted as his image was on her security screen. She recognized the response as a courtesy, not a truth.

"I wanted to discuss a small matter of protocol before next month's meeting," Alastor told her. "May I come in?"

Carmilla would have preferred he didn't, but stood aside graciously. "What matter of protocol?"

Alastor looked around her foyer. "Your daughters have been attending the meetings for some time now. Neither are Overlords, and they have no voice, yet still you allow them to sit with us."

Carmilla kept her composure. "And you see this as a problem?" He never had before. And Carmilla had no intention of disadvantaging her daughters to suit him.

"Oh heavens no." Alastor's smile seemed almost genuine. So she knew it absolutely wasn't. "I see it as a precedent."

Carmilla raised an eyebrow.

The Radio Demon turned back to her. "There is someone whom I wish to attend our meetings. He is not an Overlord again yet, so he wouldn't have a seat at the table," Alastor told her. "But he should have a chair."

"Husker," Carmilla gleaned. She had known him back when he was an Overlord. If the Overlords had had meetings back then like they do now, he would have been at the table. Although back then, he preferred other tables. "The one who shackled the fallen seraphim."

She could have kept that to herself, but then she would have had to ask why Husker should be allowed, and Alastor would have given that information up as a reason. So she bypassed that pointless dance.

"My, my!" Alastor complimented with a slight radio whine. "Your intelligence network continues to impress."

It was more than a reasonable request, considering.

"I'll allow it," Carmilla stated. She thought she could see what he was doing, but was not going to make dangerous assumptions. "But Zestial will also have to give his approval."

"Of course," Alastor said. "I will be bringing Husker to the next meeting in any case at Emily's insistence. That is, if you still want her to provide that little demonstration."

Carmilla kept a straight face. "I do."

Alastor's smile never, ever wavered. So she watched his eyes, his ears, his jawline, always looking for clues to his mental state. All she could tell though tonight was that the Radio Demon was back in full form.

Day Ten - Neon Ant Farm, night:

The beat slammed down. The flashing lasers and neon lights filled the night with an electric seizure that pulsed to the rhythm.

Emily danced, letting the crazy energy flood through her and move her body. The song had only six words, sampled from another song, repeated in echoes at the top of each run. Most of the music was like that, custom tracks forged by the DJ, heavy on driving beats and enticing riffs.

Dangling cages with bars trimmed in strips of light held insectoid demonic dancers. Cherri Bomb had tipped to swap places with one, showing off and enjoying the spotlight, howling out as the lyrics thundered.

"P-P-P-P-PARTY LIKE WE'RE GONNA DIE YOUNG!"

The chant was followed by a heavy bass drop that Emily felt in her bones.

Neon Ant Farm had multiple tiers of dance floors surrounded by balconies with booths and tables. Emily caught sight of Crymini dancing like a predator on the sunken dance floor below hers. The demon she was dancing with looked like a stuffed rabbit missing most of a war-torn ear.

The song ended with a hammering staccato that ramped up, synced with the flashing of the lights. It was like being in the heart of a prismatic thunderstorm. When the lights returned to normal, Emily looked around and eventually spotted Angel Dust and Husk at one of the upper railings. She spread her wings and flew up. They welcomed her to the booth they had claimed and littered with shot bottles, almost all of them empty.

"Whew!" Emily said joyously, beating her wings. "This is way more intense than dancing at the Head of a Pin."

After a bit, Cherri Bomb joined them. Crymini was off talking to the rabbit. Cherri Bomb told them the puppy teen had run in the same crew as the bunny for a few years and they were catching up. "I get the feelin' the cunt's gonna pitch the hotel," the cyclopean bombshell added with a grin.

Emily's eyes shifted as she reminded herself that was being used as a term of affection. She was still getting used to that. Having her dad call her a bitch had been shocking.

"It's good to see her living," Angel Dust said. He smiled, looking over to where Crymini and the stuffed rabbit were sharing laughter and a bottle.

"Good to see all of us living," Husk amended. "And congrats again on the new job," he told Angel Dust. "When's your first day?"

The effeminate spider told them, "I'm heading over there tomorrow just to have a face-to-face with the owners. They know me." He smirked. "But the job doesn't start until the remodeling is done.

One of the bug demons at a nearby booth gave them a whistle. Emily wasn't sure who it was for, but Angel Dust responded by flirting back. Emily just gave a happy wave. She had gotten more than her share of attention. More for her halo than her outfit, but definitely for her outfit. It was clearly a crowd pleaser. But then, so were Angel Dust's and Cherri Bomb's... well, everything.

"I thought Asmodeus was the owner," Emily questioned after Angel Dust was done suggestively rolling on the table, making Husk grab the still-full shot glasses.

"Asmodeus is playin' it like a foreign investor," Angel Dust informed her. "I don't know the details, but it seems silent partner-like. Club is still owned by the same couple, they've just got a powerful backer."

"Kinda like Alastor with the hotel," Emily observed.

Angel Dust nodded. "Except more covert. I'm guessing he doesn't want the other Sins to think he's messing around with Charlie's dad's Ring."

"My dad!" Emily asserted happily. The air around her burst with sparkles of angelic light.

"Ya want to do living? Then ya two cunts need t' get your sorry asses out on the dance floor," Cherri Bomb demanded. "DJ's crazy tonight!"

"After we finish this round," Husk insisted, downing two shots at once and giving a feline shudder. He offered one of the remaining shots to Emily.

"You really are trying to corrupt me," Emily teased, turning it down.

The music died away, leaving a moment of relative quiet filled with the ruckus of the crowd. A new beat started, accompanied by a rather charming, synthetically-enhanced piano riff.

Emily perked at that, bounced in place, and looked pointedly at Husk. "Now. Now would be good."

Husk got up from the bench, moving to stand before Emily, and offered his hand. "Emily, may I have this dance?"

Emily squealed with glee and took it, flying them both onto one of the relatively uncrowded upper dance floors.

As they began to dance together, she saw Angel Dust and Cherri Bomb climbing up to join them. Cherri paused, turning and catching Crymini's attention.

Guitars, piano, and a bass beat that could hammer angelic nails into sacred wood. Emily laughed as Husk spun, matching her wing movements.

At the drop, Angel Dust joined them, singing lyrics improvised to the music:

"New plagues and poisoned bullets

Holy weapons in the streets,

And at home it feels like we are

Sleeping with the enemy."

Emily and Husk joined in.

"Hell's a parade of trauma,"

"And nothing's as easy as it ought to be."

Emily invented the next verse:

"Each week's getting more stressful

And it's hard to just keep strong

It's easy to get lost in

All the things we've all done wrong,"

Angel Dust extended his extra arms, also clad in feathers, to sync visually with Emily's flapping wings as the trio sang:

"Life's a parade of drama,"

"And nothing's as easy as we want it to be."

Husk took the third verse, as Cherri Bomb joined in:

"But we have each other

And that's the support we need.

We pick each other up

When we've fallen off our feet."

The quartet sang, dancing together:

"Our tale's written together

"And there are things upon which we can all agree!"

"Lutino's the worst ship?" Crymini snarked after she scrambled up onto the raised dance floor to join them. The five friends shared a round of confirmations and laughter.

Crymini's voice blended into the harmony, forming a quintet as the DJ's custom dance track warped perfectly to match their shift in key.

"We'll help each other be better,

"Redemption's a chapter that we hope to see"

"Now a story is for reading,

Not just sitting on the shelf

And nothing's coming to save us

Till we try to save ourselves,

So let's focus on the good times,

And the new friends that we meet,

And listen for the bell chimes

In the Heaven's Embassy

The group shifted into a bridge by listing good memories from the last week, starting with Angel Dust.

"A beautiful friendship,"

Emily playfully added:

"Sex on a waterbed,"

The angel got some amused looks and raised eyebrows from her demon friends. Husk followed:

"Drinking beer on the roof,"

Cherri Bomb and Crymini rounded out the list with, "Watching the fireworks we set off."

All together, they belted out as they danced in perfect sync as the music built:

"Now the writing's on the wall

Even if it's in crayon.

We don't know how we'll get there

But the conclusion is forgone.

The number climaxed in a bright crescendo.

"'Cause we've known it all along,

Our story's ending with a song!"

Day Ten - Hazbin Hotel hot tub room, late night:

"Gothmoth!" Niffty cheered as Vaggie entered the hot tub room wearing the swimsuit that Angel Dust had purchased for her.

Vaggie blushed a little and rolled her eye as Charlie gave her wife an appreciative catcall.

"Down, hellkitten," Vaggie teased, getting a face from Charlie.

"Is Lute coming?" Niffty asked. The little woman was wearing a frilly vintage swimsuit that Vaggie suspected she had sewn herself.

"She said she was thinking about it," Charlie told her as she tested the water, dipping a hoof in. Only for Niffty to make a running bellyflop into the shallow, heated pool. She sank slowly to the bottom.

Charlie eeped in dismay and hurried into the water to make sure the little woman was alright.

Niffty came up with a happy growl. "That hurt!" She promptly climbed out to do it again.

Vaggie waded in, enjoying the soothing warmth. Charlie had been right. The smell was almost unnoticeable. And it felt nice. She sank in, sitting on the underwater bench that ringed the interior. Then looked over at Sera who was lounging in a chaise, watching idly. "You joining us?"

"I fear I would take up more than my share of the space," she said, using her unusual height as an excuse. But the souls of the Hazbin Hotel weren't about to accept that.

"The tub's plenty big enough," Charlie insisted. "I made sure to get one so big that all my family could fit comfortably. And half of them aren't here."

"I also do not have a swimsuit," Sera said. "But I will watch and enjoy the company."

"Pfft! You're not an angel in Hell until it's conspired to make you naked at least once," Vaggie chuckled.

"I'm really not..." Sera began.

"It's fun!" Niffty insisted, motioning for her to join. "Don't worry. It's safe. We don't stab angels anymore."

"Uhhh..."

Vaggie jumped to change the topic. "Does Emily have a swimsuit?"

Charlie thought. "I don't remember if Angel ordered her one. Although she could probably just wear the bunny suit."

"Bunny suit?" Sera asked.

Vaggie nodded. "Oh yeah." She waved her hands. "It's... wow!"

Sera looked somewhere else for a few moments.

Vaggie sighed, relaxing in the water. "I need to do something extra nice for her," she said abruptly. "I... kinda bit her head off the other day about the Exterminations records, and I haven't paid her nearly as much attention this week as I should have."

"We've all been dealing with a lot this week," Charlie said, sitting next to her on the bench. "Including you. And you weren't wrong about those records. Emily agrees."

"My little sister keeping a secret?" Sera mused with wry wonder. She sighed. "I have faith she'll choose better ones. You two seem to be a good influence on her."

Niffty interjected, "I like bad influences!"

Charlie cringed.

"Still going out with Seviathan, I take it?" Vaggie asked.

"Not really," Niffty said, surprising them and giving Charlie a moment of relief. "We're just going to have sex and hang out together. Next week, we're going to Imp City!"

Charlie looked like her brain had seized. After a moment, she shook her head, trying to shed her thoughts like a puppy shaking off water.

When she seemed ready, Vaggie continued. "This throuple thing is still really new. I love Emily dearly. But when I think of where I belong, I still think of being here with you, Charlie. I don't think Charlie and Emily quite as naturally yet."

Charlie nodded, reminding her, "It's only been a few weeks. I'm sure that will come in time. And I know Emily totally understands that and is good with it."

"You should get married," Sera suggested, causing both women to stare at her.

"Uhhh, we pretty much are," Vaggie protested. "We're even using the word wives now and Emily's calling Lucifer dad."

Sera nodded. "Yes. But I mean a formal ceremony. One performed at the Embassy. It would be powerfully symbolic to the rest of Hell and Heaven." Sera smiled a little. "And it may help cement the relationship in your mind."

"Oooooooooooooh!" Charlie bounced in the water, sending little waves across the hot tub. "That's a wonderful idea!"

Vaggie smiled, warming to it. "I... really like that. Yes!" She paused, then asked Sera, "But... um, who would officiate? I mean, the only people who come to mind are you and Lucifer. But I imagine dad will want to give away Charlie and you will want to give away Emily."

"There are many union ceremonies where that is not required," Sera told her. "But if you prefer, I am sure St. Peter could perform that role." After a pause, she offered, "Or one of the Sins?"

Charlie began to laugh. At Vaggie's questioning look, she blurted, "Could you imagine getting married by Asmodeus? Or Beelzebub."

"I have never met either of them," Vaggie reminded her. "So no. How about Belphegor?" Her eye widened. "Oh! How about Stolas?"

Charlie stopped laughing and gave those options serious consideration. "I... like those. I mean, if either would be up for it. Oooooh, I can't wait to ask Emily."

Vaggie and Charlie began to discuss hypothetical details while Niffty threw herself into the hot tub again, face first.

After a few minutes, Sera interjected, "I never did answer your question the other day, Vaggie."

Vaggie looked over at her. "Which one?" It took her a moment, then it clicked. "Ooooh, yeah. So... is there a way?"

Sera smiled. "Of course. Through love."

Charlie smiled at that answer. Then blinked, looking at Vaggie. "What question?"

Vaggie smiled almost wickedly.

Sera explained, "A lot of what you three experience in those situations is being magnified by the love you share. If both of you focus on your mutual love for Emily, I believe that will give you the result you desire."

"What's she talking about?" Charlie asked in a voice that told Vaggie she already knew.

Somewhere in the background, Vaggie heard the sound of voices. Laughter. The others had returned home.

Vaggie smiled and stroked Charlie's face tenderly. "I'll tell you later."

Sera smiled, watching that. She looked away for a moment, then back at her little sister's wives. "There is another question I have not answered," she admitted.

Sera turned her focus to Charlie. "I need you to know I never came between your parents."

Charlie turned, looking at Sera with confusion and a little shock. "What?"

"My relationship with your father was over before Lilith was created," Sera promised. "And my time with your mother was after your parents had separated."

Wait. What?!

Vaggie felt like a massive rug had been pulled out from under her. She could only imagine what Charlie was feeling.

Charlie's expression collapsed. "What? You... and my mom?!"

The voices in the background drew closer.

"It was only for a few years," Sera started to explain. "We aren't still..."

Charlie cut her off. "When? After they were separated for how long?"

Sera sighed. "I was with your mother about five years ago. Your parents had already been separated for..."

"Five?" Charlie stared at her in disbelief. "My mother went missing seven and a half years ago!"

Sera was staring, apologetic and stunned. "You didn't know?"

Husk and Angel Dust were the first to enter. Their merriment fell away as they took in the intensity in the room.

"Wait!" Vaggie said. "You know where Charlie's mom is?"

Sera nodded. "She is in Heaven. A secluded part of it. On a vacation. I believe it was arranged by Adam with the Elders Above."

Charlie made a breathless, wounded squeak. "A vacation?"

Niffty had stopped and was staring at her.

Charlie stood up, getting angry. "I-I... For years, I told myself she was just busy on one of the other Rings..."

She glared. "But after Alastor, I've been worried mom was a prisoner or something!" Her demonic aspect flared. Charlie's hair lost its binding, roiling in the inferno around her. Her horns grew and her eyes became red with golden irises. "Caged like Victor! I've been thinking I needed to rescue her!"

What? Vaggie's mind reeled. Is that what Alastor said to her?

Vaggie put a hand on her shoulder. "Charlie..." Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed the light of Emily's halo reflecting on the water.

"All the times I've called. All the times I've needed her." Charlie's fists clenched. "That Hell has needed her. All those Exterminations..."

Oh fuck! Oh fuck! Oh FUCK! Vaggie's heart wailed for Charlie. She did not pull her hand back, even though the heat was becoming painful.

"Mom. Has. Been. IN HEAVEN. THIS. ENTIRE. TIME!?"

Charlie found herself engulfed in wings, embraced by her two wives. It was not enough to calm her. But they held her as she shook, keeping her from losing it altogether.

Husk walked into the hot tub. Crymini followed. Angel Dust and Cherri Bomb were not far behind.

One by one, the other members of Charlie's found family joined in, surrounding her with love.