Lucifer flew back to his castle, landing on the balcony. "This should be far enough." The Devil said to himself, ensuring no one else was looking in his direction. He took a deep breath and walked inside, the portal should be opening any second now.
"Relax Lucifer, it's just your older brothers and sisters! Who you haven't seen in over ten thousand years... And are extremely pissed at you right now…" Lucifer tried to calm himself, but did all the contrary to calm himself.
No, he needs to stay calm, everything will be fine. He has the upper hand in this! Heaven will never risk getting into a war with Hell, not now that sinners know how to defend themselves, and Adam broke the treaty first! So all he has to do is play his card rights, remain calm, and surely all this mess can be fixed.
It has to.
Like a jumpscare, the portal to Heaven suddenly opened right in his face startling the King of Hell. To the other side of the portal, Lucifer could see the Heaven courtroom... Right to the point with his dear siblings. Lucifer adjusted his hat, took a small breath, and walked inside the portal.
Heaven
The moment Lucifer stepped foot inside the courtroom, holy arrows were aimed in his direction, too many to count. "Well at least it's the regular arrows and not the arrows with flames." Lucifer remarked, rolling his eyes.
"Samael." In the center of all, there was Sera the High Seraphim. What Lucifer found off is the fact that Sera was far from her usual spot, she remained in the middle but located higher than the rest of Seraphims in the room.
"Seraaaa!" Lucifer cheerfully said, extending his arms with a shit-eating grin. "Been a while since you used that name hehe... I'm guessing you're... A little angry about the results of the last extermination, eh?"
Sera's eye twitched, her hands quickly turning into fists and rage fueling her entire being. A little!? If it weren't for another of the Seraphim interruptions in the room, Sera would have unleashed a little of her wrath.
"Cut the insolent behavior, Lucifer." Lucifer's smile dropped the moment he heard that voice. He would recognize that voice anywhere, the older of the Seraphims, cataloged as "Archangels", the Princes of Heaven: Michael. A Seraphim with short hair, blue eyes, and similar features to Lucifer, wearing an angelic armor with a sword hanging from his hip. "You can't lower this incident as something 'little.'"
"Sorry for trying to lighten the mood here, Michael." Lucifer scoffed, rolling his eyes a second time.
"Lighten the mood...? You have a lot of nerve to say that now of all times." A second Seraphim said, next to Michael, a female with long white hair, gray eyes, wearing a robe dress.
"Gabriel, dear sister, by now you should know better than anyone the behavior of our brother." The Third Seraphim said. His wings are large and lavender, echoing the color of his skin. His eyes are glowing an intense green with a sharp gaze. His green armor is crafted to fit his form perfectly, covering his shoulders, legs, torso, and forearms. Draped over his armor, fastened at the shoulder with a golden clasp, was a white cloth with golden patterns, extending down to his ankles.
"He even began to embrace it with that attire of his." And the Fourth one joined too, staring at Lucifer with resentment. . His skin is blue, just like his broad wings, contrasting with the glowing purity of his blonde hair. Clad in resplendent red armor, made of intricately designed, with a white tabard draped over, adorned with a golden cross.
"Raphael, Uriel... It's good to see you too." Lucifer avoided looking at the last one, instead, he decided to look at Gabriel, the only one in the room who didn't feel like was about to snap his neck. "Jophiel and Camael are not joining?"
Before Gabriel could respond, Uriel took the word. "They do not desire to see you. The last thing they want right now is to face the one responsible for the mess we have to clean up now."
"Excuse me?" Lucifer's eyes were wide for the accusation. "Hold on now! I am not responsible for what occurred, if you want to blame someone for this mess, blame your golden boy Adam!"
Sera's eyes tilted at this. Such daring words from Lucifer now of all times. "That's enough, Samael. " Sera hissed his name, it felt like poison coming out of her mouth the way she was saying his real name. "We are here to discuss the results of the extermination, and what to do from now on with this. Are we clear? I will not tolerate this sort of behavior"
"Second time you call me that..." Lucifer mentioned, waving his cane a little.
Suddenly the spears got closer, threatening to pierce his entire body, in reaction Lucifer walked a few steps back, this action combined with the glare Sera had on him made Lucifer realize... His siblings do not summon these spears, but by Sera.
Sera is not a fighter, she never intended to become one, despite having the destructive power to be one the High Seraphim never attempted even once to use her might for destruction, her only goal was to offer guidance to humanity and then ensure the safety of Heaven and her people.
Yet at this moment, she summoned thousands of spears that aimed directly at his vitals... Never before has he seen Sera summon even one holy spear, yet at this moment she doubled the number of spears that were aimed at him ten thousand years ago.
He should've known better why, despite being far away, Sera's eyes were still clear as crystal... They not just reflect rage, but sorrow as well.
"Okay fine... Let's just get down to business and get this over with." Lucifer sighed, walking back the steps he walked back.
"Very well, let's then start with the big Elephant in the room..." Michael started. "Hell upraised against Heaven during Extermination Day, not only several members of the army were deceased. the Commander of the Angelic Army: Adam, has been reported as killed in action."
Sera's eyes closed for a second after hearing the last statement, the sentiment is still fresh in her heart. It's hard to accept that Adam has passed away... No, that he has been murdered and taken away by the scum Lucifer created since that day in Eden!
She could crush him, right now, why not do it? With all these spears aiming at him a single movement of her hand will finish him off for good, but as much as she desires to do this, balance is important, since the creation of Hell, Lucifer is tied to it. His death would break the balance that they barely were able to keep together after the root of evil infected humanity... With all her might she took a deep breath and remained calm, washing off the temptation of piercing Lucifer's skull with all these spears.
Lucifer on the other hand felt something sting his heart, this is for real... Adam is really dead ain't he? Is not what he wanted. Okay sure, he was about to beat him down badly but NOT kill him! He never had those intentions, his only goal was to look cool in front of his daughter while saving her, make Adam retreat for the day, and... Just that!
But no, things went far... Perhaps too far, and before anyone could react Adam had a knife stabbing his chest. It's easier to pretend it doesn't matter but the reality of the situation is that Lucifer cared.
There was a time when he considered Adam a friend, perhaps his best friend? Maybe the only friend he ever had during Eden. But there's no use in thinking of that now, an event that will be followed by severe consequences and now he must deal with it and prevent any harm coming to his daughter and their friends, he has to change the outcome of this trial no matter what.
"But that is not the worst part of it, according to the Lieutenant report and some of the survivors... They were eaten by Cannibals!?" Michael raised his voice, his anger more than noticeable. "Your daughter prepared an army of man eaters to attack, and then many of the fallen exorcists were eaten, dismembered and some even claim a few were eaten alive! Your people sure have a lot of nerve for this!" Michael's thundered in the trial room.
"It's one thing to kill our warriors, but eat them? Even alive? What is wrong with you all down there? No, I shouldn't ask, there's a reason for that place in the first place." Gabriel sighed, massaging his temples, one can only imagine the horrible scenes they must've witnessed...
"N-now! Hold on, let me interrupt you there!" Lucifer quickly said, raising his hand. "The only reason my daughter prepared an army was to defend herself! Nothing more, she didn't plan it out of cruelty! They were going to die if they didn't prepare themselves!"
"As part of the treatment we established, didn't we?" Uriel interjected, placing his fingers together before locking them and placing his elbows on top of the table. "Every once a year the exorcists will eradicate sinners to keep hell overpopulation in check, I believe killing sinners in the hotel is part of that process, is it not?"
"Not when you do it twice a year and then threaten my daughter in the process!" Lucifer quickly snapped. "On top of that, your little birds murdered a Hellborn, one of my Dragon pets! Those were the terms your people broke first!"
Uriel rolled his eyes, Raphael sighed, and Gabriel simply shook her head. "Are you serious Lucifer?" Michael asked, raising an eyebrow unbothered by the arguments made by his younger brother. "Is this your best defense?"
"Best defense? These are facts, Michael!" Lucifer insisted, raising his voice at his older brother as he pointed to him. "The treaty broke because of Adam's actions, he threatened my daughter, attacked the hotel, and then almost murdered her! A hellborn died in the process! I fail to see how I couldn't intervene."
"So to save your daughter, you spilled the blood of someone else's son?" Sera said, gripping her fists.
"I didn't kill Adam!" Lucifer quickly said. "I didn't even try to kill him!"
"But your actions led to his death, didn't they?" Sera insisted, leaning in her seat.
"I did what I had to protect my daughter... It ain't my fault Adam didn't have someone who would've done the same for him." Lucifer's words echoed in Sera's mind.
Someone who would've done the same for him
He's right... He's absolutely right… Sera should've been that person, a parent has to do anything for their sons, don't they? To protect them they must risk their lives, if she hadn't been so negligent towards Adam she should've been there to heal his wounds before it was too late.
No, she should've been there to stop the sinner who ended his life... To shield him! But now that's a mere fantasy, an illusion that will never be a reality. What's to do now that it's too late...?
Make things right. What better way to deal with this situation than avenging her son? She can end it now, pierce Lucifer with these spears, then go down to hell and do the same with the sinner that dared pierce Adam with the knife.
Sera's eyes glared at Lucifer with pure hatred, her feathers ruffled and a dark aura surrounded her, just when she was about to wave her hand down and end this meeting with a bath of golden blood, Michael took action.
The Archangel threw his word with might, sticking it to the ground just mere inches away from Lucifer's feet, before the King of Hell could react, the Archangel teleported in front of him taking out his sword from the floor, and aimed his throat with the sharp blade.
Lucifer froze on the spot.
"How many times you're going to try to make a fool of us, dear brother?"
Lucifer didn't respond, instead, he began to sweat... He frowned at Michael as his hand gripped his staff, eyes flashing red.
Sera's surprise washed off any ill intention she had... Her hands trembled but before any of the other Archangels noticed she hid them behind her back.
The other three Archangels stared down at the scene without surprise, they all knew it was a matter of time before Lucifer managed to get under Michael's skin.
"You are playing the role of some heroic dad?" Michael asked, his question was genuine as he couldn't understand him. "Is that your justification for this mess? Because you're just a Father trying to protect his daughter? Is that it?"
Lucifer didn't respond, the only response the Archangel got from his brother was growling as his eyes slowly became red and his horns started to grow.
"Of course, no response, in that case, let me respond to your so-called facts with true facts!" Michael removed the sword from his throat. "One of your hellspawn down there managed to kill one of the exorcists in the previous extermination, you know what that means?" Michael made a pause, waiting to see if Lucifer would respond but he didn't, he knew very well it was a rhetorical question. "It means that your people broke the treaty first!"
"Wait! That's not true!" Lucifer spat fire from his mouth. "Never in the treaty, it was established that sinners couldn't fight back could they!?"
"What...?" Michael's expression shifted from anger to pure confusion, trying to make sense of what Lucifer just said. "Hold on hold on, what?"
"In what part of the closures did it say that sinners couldn't fight back?! Huh!?" Lucifer insisted. But Michael still couldn't hold a grasp of what he was trying to lead this conversation to.
"I'm amazed...You're actually serious…" Michael had to pause for a moment, he couldn't believe the words he was hearing but... Here we are, and Michael has to tolerate the nonsense that comes from the first traitor to ever exist. "Fine, I'll humor you." Michael snapped his fingers, and the scroll they all signed appeared in front of them. The signatures of the Archangels, Sera, Adam and Lucifer could be seen at the bottom of the paper.
Michael started reading the scroll.
"As a decree to stop the conflict between hell and heaven due to the uprising led by Lilith Morningstar, the heavenly council has decreed a treaty with the ruler of hell, Lucifer Morningstar: This treaty means both realms will cease their fight and maintain the balance of creation, this treaty includes an annual extermination to keep the overpopulation in check and avoid any other possible future uprise." A small pause was made, before getting into the details of the extermination.
"This annual extermination means hell will allow heaven to send their army to exterminate demons, specifically the sinners who have the power to gain strength from binding contracts with other souls, hence for the dangerous nature of these individuals and the inability of hell to control them heaven has decided to keep them under control by exterminating their souls. If hell were to rebel against heaven once more, by any method, the consequences will be severe and decided by the new leader of the army and commander of these exterminations: Adam The First Man, the only condition is to keep hellborns untouched by the exorcist's blade." Michael finished reading, snapping his fingers the scroll rolled itself and disappeared.
Lucifer remained silent, growling under his breath.
"Where does, dear brother, it say...That Sinners are allowed to fight back!?" Michael finally snapped, losing every bit of patience he had left. "Do you need me to read it again!? In case you started to develop some reading comprehension issues now!? Let me repeat and hopefully it will make sense to you! If hell were to rebel against heaven once more by any method there will be consequences! Murdering one of our people who keeps your numbers under control is an act of rebellion!"
Lucifer roared in annoyance. "So I had to let that fatass kill my daughter!? She's not a sinner! And doesn't change the fact that a hellborn died too!"
" By any method. " Michael remarked. "And as far as I'm concerned, your daughter tried to attack Adam multiple times, and on one of those occasions, she was using one of those hellborns you so desperately try to use as an argument... Besides." Michael made a small pause... He then walked towards Lucifer, and leaned to his ears to whisper the following statement. "We both know...Your daughter isn't a hellborn."
Lucifer's eye winded in surprise... He felt shivers crawling in his back. He couldn't contain his anger, that was far enough! Lucifer clenched his fist and went full force on Michael, the strike, however, didn't land as Michael deflected the punch with one hand, in a blink of an eye Lucifer was sent flying to the wall by a mighty strike of the Archangel.
Gabriel sighed, shaking her head, it was a matter of time, never a single of the meetings they'd had with Lucifer ended without these two throwing punches at each other. Before it escalated further Gabriel teleported in front of Michael and stopped him from walking towards the injured Lucifer.
"That's enough Michael, You've made your point."
Michael stopped any attempt to continue the conflict and just remained there, frustrated but understanding it's better to stop now, if it escalates they'll just destroy the courtroom...
Again...
"Fuck!" Lucifer stood up, bleeding from his nose after the tremendous strike. "...Motherfucker that hurts!"
"It's supposed to hurt," Michael remarked, crossing his arms unfazed by Lucifer's rage.
"Let's not escalate this... Okay? We're here to discuss what to do, not act like primal humans and resort to violence" Gabriel mentioned, walking towards her brother, offering a handkerchief to clean his blood, Lucifer felt the urge to smack her hand away from him... But didn't do it, he just waved his hand off denying the offer, and cleaned himself with his arm.
"Fine, let's get back on track then... " Raphael took the word this time around. "Lucifer, your daughters and your actions once again, are threatening the balance of creatio-"
"NO!" Lucifer interrupted, screaming out loud. "You can't blame my daughter for trying to protect her friends, for trying to protect her dreams!" Lucifer glared at everyone, especially at Michael. "She tried to reach all of you to find a new solution for the overpopulation of hell and you rejected her! Was she just supposed to let her friends die!? To let herself get killed!?"
"Lucifer, that's enough!" Gabriel quickly intervened before he could say more and provoke the rage of Michael once more. "Out of courtesy, we kept the exorcist's blade out of the reach of your daughter, the only reason that stopped being an exception is because she continued to provoke the wrath of the exorcists and even dared to come here and cause havoc among the court members!"
"Wha-...! That's only because you guys didn't hear her out! She came here with good intentions but you kept shutting her down without giving her a chance!" Lucifer pointed out, staring at Gabriel in disbelief.
"A chance...? Are you talking about this plan for her to redeem sinners?" Uriel asked, tilting his head visibly confused. "Her 'Hazbin Hotel?'"
"Yes!" Lucifer responded, his anger fading once he started speaking about Charlie. "You have to give her a chance, she has good intentions! None of the madness that went down in the extermination made her happy at all, all of this is exactly what she wanted to avoid, you forced her hand by rejecting her idea!"
"The fact that you're serious is what angered us the most, Lucifer." Uriel said, as calm as he could. "We forced her hand? Are you ignoring what Michael previously established? Or the smack on your face made you forget?"
"It doesn't have to be that way!" Lucifer said. He knew he screwed every single chance he had in this meeting, he supposedly was going to play his cards right, and where did that get him? He needs to turn the outcome of the meeting and somehow convince them to give Charlie an opportunity. "Human souls are exterminated yearly! Every chance of change has been taken away as a lost cause! But what if they're not!? What if they still have a chance? I've seen with my own eyes what giving that chance can do! Sinners in the hotel didn't fight for hatred, they fought to protect their friends, the place that gave them a second chance!"
Sera's rage started to grow again. Preposterous! Allowing the same kind that ate exorcists and tormented the living on earth, here!? In the place of eternal rest!? How does Lucifer dare to demand such a blasphemous petition!? The temptation to throw the spears again but with Michael and Gabriel down there now she can't or she'll end up harming them.
"You're demanding things now!?" Uriel frowned, starting to lose his patience too. "What makes you think you have the right to make your demands after the harm you've caused for the last ten thousand years!?"
"I don't! It's for my daughter, please! Look, want me to pay for it!? I'll do it! You can send me to a new realm all by myself, you can beat me up! You can end my life if you want as a repercussion for what happened to Adam and the exorcists but please at least hear her out... See that what she's trying to do, is for the greater good! She's not like me... She's actually good at heart..." Lucifer insisted, his plea edging towards begging, a phase of Lucifer the personification of Pride never dared to show, not even when he was cast away from Paradise.
For many years he has failed his daughter, but Lucifer decided to NOT fail today, not with this... Not with her daughter's dream at the edge of being torn apart. He starred in the eyes at Michael, not with hatred like before but a glimpse of honesty.
"Michael... This is what you want?" His question took the Archangel off guard. "Tell me, this is what you want for Father's creation!? I know of everyone here, you're the one who hopes there could be another solution. That if given the chance, they could leave behind the wrong they've done and become new people...! My daughter believes it, she has faith in them, please... Have faith in her too!"
The room fell into silence.
While a few such as Michael, Gabriel, and even Raphael considered the idea... Uriel and Sera found only offense in his words. The day the exterminations were taken into consideration it took hours of debate to reach a decision, but in the end, it was the only solution they could arrive at, and despite the objections raised each one of them ended up being taken down with one single undeniable fact: If nothing is done, they risk the chance of hell finally taken over.
The idea of redemption was never considered before for the mere fact that any soul who didn't change during their time being alive, what reason could they have to change during their afterlife? Especially after being given a degenerate paradise such as hell where they can do as they please without consequences.
"... I'm sorry Lucifer, but it's not possible." Michael responded, shattering every small glimpse of hope Lucifer had. "We've seen what your daughter has tried to do, but her 'proof' is not enough to prove a soul can be redeemed, at best it shows they can behave but how can we trust that process will work if one month later that she so proudly showcase was being a participant in the murder of heaven's soldiers and feeding cannibals with their bodies!?"
"It was for survival...!" Lucifer tried to insist.
"Survival is not justification for cruelty, they prepared in advance to kill our forces and break the treaty even further! All that time could be used to relocate, wouldn't you agree?" Uriel pointed out.
"Wha-!? You're telling me your best solution is running away from the problem!?"
"I'm telling you if they wanted to avoid the conflict, then prove it! I believe it's one of the learnings Father left before ascending: If they hit your cheek, then offer the other"
"And I believe another one was to stand up against injustice! These sinners were innocent, so I believe it is plenty reasonable!"
"Injustice!? Innocent!?" Uriel could almost laugh, almost! But his anger was bigger. "You're telling me giving the scum of the earth the punishment you and your sins fail to give them is injustice!? That these souls aren't tainted with innocent blood!? That they didn't deserve to go to hell for the harm they've done on earth!?"
"When you deny a new possible solution that avoids this bloodshed and seek to punish people who try to change, then yes! I believe it is unjust! This has become simply a genocide! It's not different from the Flood, that I remind you, Father regretted it!"
Uriel finally teleported down too, pointing his sword at him. "Don't use the name of our Father in vain, Lucifer, you're testing your luck..."
"...I'm not using his name in vain, I have the right to name my Father too." Lucifer adjusted his hat, staring back at his brother, a challenging act that Uriel was more than willing to accept.
"You're daring to come here after challenging us, to mock us, to dare to make demands, and now use the name of our Father for your convenience and call the cleanses that are the exterminations for what? An empty dream!? For sinful scum that your daughter so desperately tries to save while being ignorant of the source of the real problem!? You have a lot of nerve, Lucifer, so give me a good reason to not cut you down in pieces right now!"
"Okay, enough both of you!" Gabriel quickly stepped in, pulling down Uriel's sword. "I said, we're are here to discuss a solution, not behave like primates!"
Both Uriel and Lucifer scoffed, annoyed but didn't attempt to continue the discussion further, not now that Gabriel was in the middle.
"Lucifer look, we get it, none of us enjoyed making the Exterminations official, but you're asking us AGAIN, to put our trust in a dream!" Gabriel remarked, it's something everyone here has grown used to after all.
"I'm not asking for your trust, I'm asking for your faith! Have faith in my daughter! Isn't that what Angels are supposed to be all about!? About faith!?" Lucifer continued to insist, growing desperate by this point.
"We can't have faith in your daughter just like that after the stun she led. Lucifer, do you have any actual real evidence that this redemption can work!? That your daughter has the method to change a soul for the better good!?" Raphael asked, teleporting down with them too. "Just one proof!"
Lucifer didn't respond, so far if he has to admit he hoped they wouldn't ask that because the reality is that he has none... Not a single proof that her idea could work. He gripped his staff with both hands, trying to come out with something, anything!
"I… uh..." But nothing came...
"Sera, you saw it during the hearing... Was there any proof at all that the sinner known as Angel Dust could change? Do you know something we may have not seen yet?" Michael asked the High Seraphim who was now the only one who remained in her spot.
Sera remained oddly quiet... So far since they started to talk about the redemption idea the daughter of the Morningstar seeks to achieve. And because... She has that said proof, in her hands it lays the living proof that redemption is possible, Sir Pentious is still with Emily, and if she were to show him right here, right now... The debate would end and the Archangels would join in this redemption plan.
And that is something she won't allow. The safety of heaven lies in her hands, keeping Emily safe is her duty, keeping winners safe is her solemn oath. As long as she breathes a filthy sinner will never again set foot in heaven!
"I'm afraid not. There doesn't exist such a thing as proof that sinners can be redeemed... The only thing I've witnessed so far is a sinner looking for his own interests, nothing more."
"No! No no! Sera, wait that's not-!" Lucifer desperately tried to say something, but quickly got shut down by the following question made by Gabriel.
"Lucifer... Do you even yourself believe this idea of redemption your daughter has!?"
It caught him off guard. He didn't know how to answer, because the reality of the situation is... He doesn't.
After so many uncountable years living down in hell, the mere idea of sinners redeeming themselves is just a mere fantasy...
Lucifer's doubts solidified the Archangel's position, the look in their eyes was the only answer Lucifer needed, they're not giving his daughter any chance, not now... Probably never
"...Is this how things are going to be?" The Devil asked, with bitter disappointment.
"It's how it has to be." Michael responded, some regret cracking in his voice too, but as Leader of the Archangels... He has to make the hardest decisions. "We'll make a new treaty to start over the exterminations, but to deal with the sinners that learned how to fight us and destroy the angelic steel sinners have in their possession my army will be sent"
Lucifer's eyes winded in terror upon hearing those words. "Wh-!? No! NO! Michael please it doesn't have to be that way!" Lucifer desperately pleaded, knowing the horrors Michael's army was capable of doing he feared for the fate of his daughter and her friends.
"We are not taking risks this time." Michael firmly stated. "We are going to destroy every angelic weapon they might still have and purge these sinners ourselves... After that, we will return to the yearly extermination this time led by Lute, Adam's Lieutenant. We'll find out what to do and your daughter after."
"Michael please!" Lucifer tried desperately to reach him but Uriel got in the way, pointing his sword at him once more.
"Don't dare to take a step further..." Uriel threatened but eager to cut him down if he dared to do so, oh how deeply he wished he did so.
Lucifer's despair grew more, it was insanity! They're going to do it, they are really going to continue exterminations and Charlie's effort will be for nothing!? No, it can't be, Lucifer can't allow this... He has to think of something, anything!
Anything that might convince them! To make them retreat!
He has an idea, the only card he has left to use. This is going to get wild...
"You're not going to do it." Lucifer said out loud, eyes focused on Michael once again.
"...Excuse me?" Michael raised his eyebrow confused.
"I say you're not going to send your army, unless you want me to start a war." Lucifer accompanied his words with wicked eyes that stared at the older of the Archangels.
"Are you threatening us!?" Raphael, his hand reaching the grip of his sword ready to draw.
Now or never, Lucifer has to play perfectly. "I am!" Lucifer smiled, he casually started to walk around his brothers, using his staff as a cane. His free hand reached the sharp arrows and simply toyed with them with his finger. "I didn't want to come to this brothers, trust I truly didn't! But you leave me with no choice!"
"This is a war you can't win Lucifer, and you know it." Michael's voice became threatening.
"...Is that so?" Lucifer's smile grew even more. "We have a weaponry full of angelic steel ready to be used! Plenty of trained sinners and... A secret weapon." Lucifer started to spin his staff in one hand.
"Secret weapon? You're bluffing, there's not a single weapon my Army is not capable of countering, let alone damage us." Michael stated, and it's true, Lucifer knew well enough that angelic steel was not something that could easily threaten Michael and his army, for Seraphim as high as themselves something of great power is needed... Something maybe, that could boost sinners?
"...You're right my brother. Unless we increase their strength that is, say... How much do you think sinners would boost in power if they ate a powerful soul?" Lucifer stopped walking and turned to Michael, his smile still intact, as the Archangels stared at each other in confusion.
Sera felt something pierce through her chest being the first to understand Lucifer's implications.
"What I mean is... Adam's body is still intact, if I were to feed the cannibals with his flesh... How much do you think their power will increase!? Or better yet... What would happen if an overlord eats at least a fraction of a soul that descended directly from Father!?" Lucifer's smile suddenly became more wicked, his eyes transformed into a spiral of madness as the wrath of the Seraphims unfolded.
Sera finally teleported down, appearing along with a clap of thunder and lightning, her solace presence caused Lucifer to fall, the High Seraphim prepared the spears to be launched. She's been too patient with this being, she's going to deal with him herself and retreat Adam's body before they dare to touch him!
"WAIT!" Lucifer held his hand up. "If you kill me here then Adam's body will be thrown to the cannibals! And then your army will have to deal with them! You'll have an army of sinners with Adam's level of strength to deal with!" He quickly said, making Sera stop just when the spears were mere inches away from piercing him entirely.
" YOU ARE TESTING MY PATIENCE, SAMAEL " She shouted, in her full Seraphim form, every single eye glaring at the devil with pure disgust and hate.
"Three times now, Huh. Anyway, I guess I'm an expert on that with all of you aren't I?" Lucifer didn't lose time and began to taunt them, in this position he knew he was untouchable for the moment, now he had to take full advantage of this.
"You despicable devil!" Uriel shouted, gripping the grip of his sword. "You're playing with fire, Lucifer."
"Whatever it takes to keep my daughter's dream alive! I'm giving you a fair chance to reconsider your position if you truly want Adam's body back in one piece that is... Unless you want the leftovers sent in a box?" Lucifer casually asked as he stood up, dusting off his clothes.
Sera's lighting increased, Lucifer's words only fueled her rage more and more.
"So, is this your plan to convince us? You threaten to disrespect the body of the First Human created by Father and use the sinners powered up by his soul!?" Raphael gritted his teeth, he couldn't believe it, none of his brothers or his sister could. "And all for what!? To follow a shallow dream of your spoiled brat!?"
"I tried peacefully! You didn't listen so you forced my hand, simple as that." Lucifer finished dusting off, and then proceeded to adjust his hat back. "And don't dare to insult my daughter like that, not unless you want Adam to start losing his fingers!"
"ENOUGH! " Sera's eyes became white and she held a holy spear right in the throat of Lucifer. " SPEAK YOUR TERMS, NOW. "
"...Just give me a chance to prove my daughter can do things right, and I'll return Adam's body! Intact and complete."
"...No, we can't agree to such stupidity!" Uriel quickly said, walking to Michael's side. "Brother don't listen to this buffoon! He's most likely lying, you know his nature, he earned the title of King of Lies for a reason, I can deal with him while you go to hell and retrieve Adam's body!"
"Oh I'm lying!? Are you sure!?" Lucifer smiled at Uriel. "Do you really want to test that out? C'mon! Do it then, stab me right now, and watch by yourselves how my daughter's girlfriend Maggie throws the body of Adam to the cannibals! It'll be a spectacle!"
Uriel, along with Sera growled in anger.
"Michael, we can't take the risk!" Gabriel quickly interjected, standing by Michael's left side.
"The risk we can't take is accepting his terms! Michael, think about it!" Uriel pressed, holding the shoulder of Michael.
"If they eat Adam's body then we doom the realms and earth! Don't you see we are risking the entire Creation!?" Gabriel urged for Michael's decision to be the wise one, this is a bet they can't risk taking!
"We'll be walking right into a trap! Michael! I can handle him! Go to hell now!"
"Michael we can't-!"
"Your choice…" Lucifer taunted, a smirk forming in his lips followed by a wink.
Michael's patient finally broke.
" SILENCE! "
The Seraphim's voice echoed, mighty and powerful. Everyone immediately went silent, and Michael took a deep breath before he continued to talk. "Seraphiel, lower your spears."
Sera's eyes returned to normal, staring at Michael with confusion.
"I say again... Lower them, please."
Sera knew better, Michael had reached a decision and while she might be the High Seraphim, the Archangels were still above her, especially Michael... It took all her strength to not disobey, with a wave of her hand all the spears disappeared, including the one close to his throat.
Lucifer could finally relax a little, but not too much he still has to hear Michael's decision. "So...?"
"...Fine. We'll agree to your terms." Michael declared, despite Uriel's clear frustration he agrees with Gabriel, this isn't worth the risk.
Lucifer's eyes had color again, and a sincere smile of relief appeared on his lips. "Michael, you-"
But before he could continue, Michael raised his hand with three fingers standing out. "3 months."
"Huh?"
"You and your daughter have 3 months to prove this redemption idea can work or at the very least a way to keep sinners under control without our interference." Michael stated the conditions.
"...Just 3 months!?" Lucifer wasn't even sure it was possible during that short time!
"What, now you want to demand more!?" Michael clenched his fist, and that was a clear signal for Lucifer to know to not test his luck more.
"No, no! It's enough time..." Is not, but it's the best he could get. "Fine, three months, but during that time I'll keep Adam's body then, I have to make sure you don't attempt to attack us or anything" Lucifer added another demand, is goes without saying but this only made Sera and the Archangels more angry than they were already, even Gabriel began to consider snapping Lucifer's neck on the spot.
"...Fine." Michael accepted, forcefully but knowing it was the only choice at the time. "In 3 months we will hold another meeting, that day you'll bring Adam's body in ONE piece. Are we clear!?"
"Clear as water," Lucifer agreed. "We have come to a deal then..."
Sera couldn't believe it, but a part of her should've expected this outcome, in front of them it's none other than Lucifer Morningstar, the first mastermind, the first Angel to fall... The first devil to ever exist. Her frustration was unreal, and desperation just consumed her more and more... The body of her son... Used as a mere tool for the selfish desires of demons.
She will never forgive them, she will never forgive him!
Sera's soul, little by little... Began to be tainted in black.
"Now then... I believe we're done here... Do you mind if...?" Lucifer waved his staff a little, imitating the shape of a portal to return home.
Michael, obliged, snapped his fingers opening a portal back to his castle.
"Thank you, dearest brother!" Lucifer smiled, and started to walk back to Hell, but just when he was a few steps away from entering the portal...
"Lucifer!" Michael called his name.
"Yes...?" Lucifer slowly turned around.
"...If you by any chance lie to us, lie to me and something happens to Adam's body: We're sending Azrael."
Lucifer's skin paled, if it could be any paler! Azrael!? Of all people?! No, Michael is dead serious about this...
"Michael-" Lucifer was about to argue, to make him reconsider it was unnecessary but by this point, no one wanted to hear any single word out of his mouth anymore.
"Return to your hell hole already, see you in three months you miserable devil!" Uriel then proceeded to kick Lucifer in the stomach, with enough strength to send him flying through the portal.
Once he went through, the portal immediately closed.
Lucifer collided with the wall of his room, the wall cracked and soon Lucifer's body slid down hitting the floor, the movement made one of his piled ducks shaked and fell over him burying him entirely in rubber ducks.
Now buried in ducks, alone with his thoughts... Lucifer closed his eyes and allowed the guilt and shame to take over. It had to be done one way or another...
Even if it meant to give another reason for his siblings to hate him...
Back in the Heavenly Council, the Archangels continued their discussions of what recently happened, anger, shame, disgust... Many emotions mixed, many things that Sera didn't have any tolerance for today, she had enough.
Without saying a word, she walked out the gates of the room and headed to her office.
"Sera wait-!" Raphael tried to reach her, but Gabriel stopped him.
"Let her be Raphael... I believe she needs some time alone."
"...Are we sure we should leave her alone? Doesn't she need some company?" Raphael asked, worried for the sake of their High Seraphim.
"No. You know very well the type of relationship she had with Adam... All that Lucifer did and then threatened to do? It's hard to take, she's going to need some time alone to process it." Gabriel explained. It's not that Raphael didn't already know that but... It still felt wrong.
The pain of losing a son is not something anyone could easily recover from, let alone recover at all...
"...For now, let's focus on informing Camael and Jophiel about this, they'll need to be updated with... The terms of our current situation." Michael said, none disagree with that.
Looking at the door Sera went through one last time, the four Archangels teleported away.
...
..
.
Inside her office, Sera allowed herself to storm out her emotions, for a second time today she cried.
Cried out of frustration.
Cried out of anger.
Cried out of remorse.
Cried out of a broken heart...
Adam's body was used as an exchange to agree on the terms of Lucifer's daughter!? How far are sinners willing to go for their selfish desires!? Is this what they want!? Parisde was denied for their evil doing and now they aim to achieve it by force!? How cruel their wicked minds could get!?
And worst of all... She did nothing! She couldn't do anything to stop it! To make Lucifer pay and recover the body of her son! Now!? Now is down there at the edge of being eaten by the worst kind of sinners!
All she could do was cry, if there was a way to do something... But what could possibly be done? How could she find a way to fix this terrible mess...?
As if it was an answer to her question, the door to her office was knocked a few times.
Now it was not the time for visits, she had a lot to deal with already to receive more work now... But as the knocks continued insisting Sera stood up with no other option but to open the door.
At first, Sera felt a wave of shock and confusion at the face that she met behind the door... So familiar to him, due to the current state of her emotions for half a second there she confused him with Adam... But as soon as she notices the eye-patch in his face she knows it's not Adam... Yet that doesn't take her surprise away as now she's confused as to why he would be here.
A face similar to Adam but with a black eye patch, a golden halo just like him with bigger golden wings, a muscular body, tanned skin similar to hers, a pair of golden eyes, and wearing a white robe with the letter "A" on his right sleeve.
One of the first sons of Adam...
"Abel…?" Sera whispered, still surprised to see him here.
"...Sera. I've been informed of the situation... I believe a talk between us is needed."
Writing Lucifer was hard